Registered Nurse (Nurse Manager Specialty Care Services )

The John J. Pershing Veterans Affairs Medical Center (JJP VAMC), a Level 3 complexity facility, is recruiting a Registered Nurse to serve as the Nurse Manager for Specialty Care Services. This position reports directly to the Chief Nurse of Specialty Care Services and is responsible for leadership, operational oversight, and clinical supervision of multidisciplinary outpatient specialty clinics. The Registered Nurse Manager for Specialty Care Services provides leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management for outpatient specialty clinics, including Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Pain Management, Urology, and Dermatology. The role ensures safe, timely, and effective care for Veterans; directs nursing practice; manages staff performance; maintains compliance with VA policies; and supports high-quality clinical outcomes through coordinated specialty workflows and strong interdisciplinary collaboration. Key Responsibilities: Leadership & Staff Management Supervises nursing and support staff, providing coaching, performance management, and professional development. Ensures staff practice within scope, competencies, licensure, and regulatory requirements. Manages onboarding, annual competencies, skills validation, and ongoing training. Clinical & Operational Oversight Oversees daily clinic operations, patient flow, scheduling efficiency, and access metrics. Ensures compliance with clinical protocols, diagnostic workflows, EKG procedures, GI support requirements, and consult guidelines. Acts as nursing leadership contact for specialty providers regarding workflow coordination and staffing. Ensures proper procedural preparation, infection control, supply management, and safety practices. Staffing & Resource Management Develops staffing plans aligned with workload and specialty needs. Coordinates float coverage, overtime, and contingency staffing with NOD and Chief Nurse. Monitors staffing trends and productivity. Veteran Access & Consult Management Oversees consult triage to ensure accuracy, timeliness, and compliance with national directives. Ensures EHR review before order placement and communication of results. Tracks access metrics including wait times, no-shows, recalls, and follow-up scheduling. Partners with providers to address barriers to diagnostic and procedural access. Quality, Compliance & Safety Ensures adherence to VA and VISN policies, infection control standards, and specialty-specific procedures. Conducts audits of documentation, clinical reminders, consult completion, and safety practices. Leads quality improvement initiatives to enhance specialty operations and patient outcomes. Ensures compliance with incident reporting, patient safety goals, and emergency procedures. Collaboration & Communication Works closely with specialty providers and clinical leaders to coordinate clinic operations and workflow improvements. Supports interdisciplinary communication for resource planning and patient care needs. Represents nursing on committees related to specialty operations, procedural services, and quality initiatives. Preferred Experience: 2 years as a Nurse Manager or Assistant Nurse Manager in specialty care clinics or procedural areas, along with at least 2 years of procedural experience in gastroenterology, cardiology, pain management, urology, or dermatology. Candidates should also have 2-3 years of progressively responsible nursing experience in outpatient specialty, procedural, or diagnostic settings. Prior leadership or charge nurse experience is strongly preferred. 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, 7:30am • 4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Basic Requirements: English Language Proficiency. In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7403(f), no person shall serve in direct patient care positions unless they are proficient in basic written and spoken English. 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); OR Individuals attending a master's level bridge program in nursing who have completed coursework equivalent to a bachelor's level degree in Nursing may have opportunity to become registered as a nurse with a state licensing board prior to completion of the bridge program. Upon achievement of a State license, the individual may be appointed on temporary basis and later converted to a permanent appointment upon successful completion and graduation from the bridge program. (Reference VA Handbook 5005, Appendix G6); OR In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing, possession of a current, full, active, and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement for graduation from an approved school of professional nursing to warrant an appointment as a Nurse who has completed an associated degree/entry level Nursing education program. Credit for foreign nursing education higher that associate degree/entry level requires a formal degree equivalency validation from a recognized equivalency evaluation accepted by VA such as International Consultants of Delaware (ICD). Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the United States, or the District of Columbia. Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) Exception: Candidates who otherwise meet the basic education requirements, but do not possess the required licensure, may be appointed at the entry step of the grade and level applicable to the completed nursing education as a GNT on a 120-day temporary appointment while actively pursuing licensure (may be extended up to two years on a case-by-case-basis.) NOTE: Grandfathering Provision • All persons currently employed in VHA in 0610 series and 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. Grade Determinations: The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates, and if appropriate, the level within a grade. The Dimension requirements (Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development and Evidence-Based Practice/Research) are detailed for each grade and level within the online assessment: https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13072823. Grade/Level Scope Education Nurse I, Level I Delivers fundamental, knowledge-based care to assigned clients while developing technical competencies. An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing, with no additional professional nursing required. Nurse I, Level II Demonstrates integration of biopsychosocial concepts, cognitive skills and technically competent practice in providing care to clients with basic or complex. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 1 year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 1 ;OR a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional professional nursing experience required. Nurse I, Level III Demonstrates proficiency in practice based on conscious and deliberate planning. Self-directed in goal setting for managing complex client situations. An ADN or Diploma in Nursing AND 2 years of professional nursing experience in which one year is equivalent to Nurse I, Level 2; OR a BSN and 1 year of professional nursing experience equivalent to the Nurse I, Level 2; OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) and no additional professional nursing experience; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse II Demonstrates leadership in delivering and improving holistic care through collaborative strategies with others. A BSN with 2 years of professional nursing equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR an MSN with one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Master's degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse I, Level 3; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with no professional nursing experience; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN with no additional professional nursing experience. Nurse III Executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership, experience and creative approaches to management of complex client care beyond the immediate practice setting. MSN and 2 years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Master's degree in related field with BSN and two years of specialized nursing experience, one of which is equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing with and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III; OR a Doctoral degree in a related field with a BSN and one year of specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse II and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse III. Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. Physical Requirements: This position requires physical activities commonly associated with nursing duties, including direct patient care and extended periods of walking, standing, sitting, moderate lifting, and repeated bending or kneeling. Examples include supporting patients while standing for prolonged periods and adhering to safe patient handling and mobility protocols. 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. 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. 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.