Nurse Practitioner (Behavioral Health Quality & Accreditation Program Coordinator)

The Nurse Practitioner Behavioral Health Quality & Accreditation Program Coordinator provides expert-level leadership for planning, coordinating, implementing, and monitoring performance improvement activities across Behavioral Health Services at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System. This position drives compliance and organizational readiness with The Joint Commission, the Office of Inspector General, VHA guidelines, directives, and other applicable regulatory bodies. https://youtu.be/LM35k1p_3Tc?si=6wdZw0Lag331XBMR Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Assist Nurse Leaders, Advanced Practice Nurses, and interdisciplinary clinicians in carrying out the functions and activities expected of them. Contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of clinical practice. Lead and collaborate in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs. Collaborate with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross services and/or disciplines that influence organizational mission and health care. Chair the Behavioral Health Quality and Compliance Committee, comprising Mental Health Executive Leadership and the Chief of Quality, Safety, and Value. Lead the committee in monitoring and analyzing performance trends, guiding improvement efforts, and maintain continuous compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards across Behavioral Health Services at VASLCHCS. Lead accreditation readiness and response for Behavioral Health, including coordination of the medical center's Focused Standards Assessment for the Joint Commission; management of post-survey requirements such as Evidence of Standards Compliance and Measures of Success; and oversight of an external review database. Ensure that findings and communications from regulatory bodies • including TJC, OIG, and OMI • are analyzed and disseminated to leadership in a timely and actionable manner. Generate, analyze, and disseminate data from mock surveys, tracer activities, peer reviews, and other quality oversight processes to inform decision-making and drive sustainable improvement. VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay: Competitive salary, regular salary increases, potential for performance awards Paid Time Off: 50 days of paid time off per year (26 days of annual leave, 13 days of sick leave, 11 paid Federal holidays per year) Retirement: Traditional federal pension (5 years vesting) and federal 401K with up to 5% in contributions by VA Insurance: Federal health/vision/dental/term life/long-term care (many federal insurance programs can be carried into retirement) Licensure: 1 full and unrestricted license from any US State or territory Work Schedule: Monday • Friday 8:00 A.M. • 4:30 P.M. Telework: Available. The Veterans Health Administration, including VISN 4 (legacy VISN 19) and the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System, will comply fully with the intention and instructions contained in the "Return to Office" Executive Order. This position will likely be eligible to telework on a limited Ad-Hoc basis only. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized. PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized. Advanced Practice Nurse (Nurse Practitioner) Basic Requirements Education: A post-master's certificate or master's or doctoral degree as a Nurse Practitioner. (Applicants pending the completion of educational requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until the education requirements are met.) Must be a graduate of a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate accrediting agency and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed by the applicant: The Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). NOTE: Foreign Education. Graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing programs, the nurse practitioner degree equivalency must be validated through an Agency recognized degree equivalency evaluation agency, such as the International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Candidates with equivalent nurse practitioner masters or doctorate level degrees who possess current, full, active, and unrestricted registration and certification will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant appointment. License and Certification: License. All APN (NPs) must possess and maintain an active, current, full, and unrestricted APN license to practice as an NP in a State, Territory or Commonwealth of the United States, or in the District of Columbia. Basic Certification. All APN (NPs) must maintain full and current board certification in an area of clinical specialty from one of the following: the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Board (AANPCB), or other nationally recognized certifying body in the area in which the Nurse Practitioner is academically prepared. NOTE: Grandfathering Provision • All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and an APN (NP) assignment that are also performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of the standard (1/29/2024) are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held including positive education and licensure/certification. The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse IV: Scope: Executes leadership that is characterized by substantial and continuous responsibility and accountability for population groups or integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care. Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in nursing and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and 3 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse III and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse IV. Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimensions: Leadership. Leads health care delivery by leveraging evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models. Drives a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the program or service level. Business Acumen. Transforms health care by implementing new processes, technology, informatics, and data analytics using business models and fundamental concepts of resource management at the program or service level. Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle. Employs an industry leading, shared decision-making lifestyle. Cultivates a workforce that serves Veterans, families and caregivers of all backgrounds and builds trust, lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the program or service level. Communication and Relationship Management. Directs the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional organizational values, beliefs and practices at the program or services level. Professional and Social Responsibility. Operationalizes a lifestyle of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity. Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the program or service level. Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans and the community. Preferred Experience: Two years experience with Mental Health Quality and Safety Compliance (e.g., The Joint Commission, OIG, etc.). Experience providing care to Veterans with serious mental illness. Physical Requirements: The incumbent must be able to perform all activities of the position without restriction. This position involves considerable standing, walking, stooping, bending, reaching, lifting and turning. The work may involve pushing or lifting weight in excess of 50 pounds and going up and down flights of stairs. Requires visual and auditory acuity at a level to provide safe and effective care. Requires the individual to work for periods of time with arms above shoulder level or with the neck in a fully flexed or extended position and the ability to physically control or protect him/herself from physically abusive patients. Requires the individual to travel in an automobile for several hours at a time. U.S. Citizenship; non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical evaluation. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.