Deputy Chief Nurse (Quality and Patient Safety)

Quick Facts

• Role: Deputy Chief Nurse (Quality and Patient Safety)

• Reports to: Chief of QPS Service; member of the Executive Leadership Council

• Primary focus: oversight and leadership of the facility performance improvement and quality program

Description

The Deputy Chief Nurse for Quality and Patient Safety provides executive leadership and direct supervision to support the facility’s comprehensive performance and quality program. The role helps drive high-quality, safe, and cost-effective evidence-based outcomes through continuous improvement across quality and patient safety domains. Responsibilities include monitoring performance and quality data, implementing action plans and process improvement strategies, and coordinating accreditation and regulatory survey readiness.

Responsibilities

• Support the Chief of QPS with leadership and supervision for staff assigned to Risk Management, VASQIP, Utilization Management, Tumor Registry, Patient Safety, Performance Improvement, and Systems Redesign
• Collaborate with administrative and clinical services to monitor quality and safety across the health care system
• Oversee the facility’s performance improvement and quality program—establishing, maintaining, and monitoring patient care delivery standards
• Review performance measures and quality data (EPRP, VASQIP data, IPEC, and other quality data) to identify trends and enable early intervention
• Use clinical performance improvement methods to collect outcome data for policy/procedure and regulatory compliance
• Recommend and implement data-driven and comparative analytical programs to improve service excellence, customer satisfaction, and compliance
• Support implementation of action plans and process improvement strategies with regular progress reports
• Coordinate facility activities related to Joint Commission and other oversight bodies (including OIG, CARF, VA Central Office, Medical Inspector, and CAP), including survey preparation and follow-up
• Coordinate systems redesign programs, the patient safety program, utilization management program, and the risk management program
• Support continual planning to meet accreditation standards and VHA Performance Measures; serve as liaison to the VISN Quality Management Office
• Interface with VA regulatory agencies and participate in senior-level strategic planning

Benefits

• Competitive salary with regular salary increases and potential performance awards
• Paid time off: 50 days per year (26 annual leave, 13 sick leave, 11 paid federal holidays)
• Retirement: traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401(k) with up to 5% contributions
• Insurance options: federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care