Assistant Chief Nurse – Perioperative

Summary

*Current New Mexico VA Health Care System Internal Facility employees only!* The New Mexico VA Health Care System is looking for a Assistant Chief Nurse for the Perioperative Service Team!

Duties

• The Nurse Assistant Chief Nurse functions as a self-directed clinical leader, educator, and consultant utilizing management theory in collaboration with Patient Care Service (PCS) and other services.
• They establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels.
• The Assistant Chief Nurse assists with the development of care delivery models and environmental design, ensuring evidence-based, accessible, affordable, and equitable patient care.
• The Nurse Assistant Chief Nurse is responsible to the Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) and is accountable to the Associate Director of Patient Care Services (ADPCS).
• Duties include but not limited to the following: Ensures administrative support and guidance while providing oversight for the delivery of nursing care and management of nursing personnel and clinical resources.
• Assumes responsibility for the coordination of care focused on patient education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.
• Follows procedures per established policies and guidelines.
• Influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team.
• Provides coordination and accountability for all regulatory and environmental surveys and adheres to mandatory response timelines.
• Core elements of performance include knowledge and active participation in the unit/program level quality improvement process and initiatives as well as customer service programs.
• Assists Nurse Managers (NM) to carry 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 nursing organization-wide, while assisting in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and clinical programs.
• Collaborates with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care.
• Demonstrates leadership at the service and/or hospital level, including functioning as a nursing leader with the ability to delegate appropriately.
• Performs administrative functions to assistant the Associate Chief Nurse (ACN) which include but are not limited to educational programs, medicine specialty, procedural areas, etc. Assists with aggregate data and participate in the budget process to plan for current, emerging, and future resource requirements for operational status.
• Provides leadership in determining the allocation of resources based on patient care systems that produce high-quality outcomes.
• Actively supports and role models patient-family centered care concepts in patient care services.
• Engages in professional organizations to enhance leadership and career growth.
• Adheres to ethical principles in decision-making, fostering accountability at personal, organizational, and staff levels.
• Cultivates alliances across the care continuum, building trust through active listening, engagement, and emotional intelligence.
• Ensures compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards, directives, policies, and standards operating procedures (SOP).
• Aligns nursing/clinical objectives with organizational strategic outcomes, participating in strategy planning and execution.
• Promotes a workplace to achieve the organizations vision and mission.
• Preferred Experience: Knowledge of ambulatory and inpatient procedural processes.
• 3-5 years Peri-Operative experience required.
• 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: 7:30 am to 4:00 pm M-F (some availability after duty hours) Telework: Not Authorized Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized EDRP: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

• 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.
• Must pass pre-employment physical examination.
• 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.
• As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 2-year probationary period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest.
• In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service.
• Upon completion of your probationary period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest.

How You Will Be Evaluated

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

NOTE: Candidate’s education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected. The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social).

Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate’s abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

Required Documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document.
• This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted ‘Resume’ document upload field.
• Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the ‘Other’ document upload field.
• The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position.
• Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License Curriculum Vitae Performance Appraisal Professional Certification
• Resume SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans’ Preference
• Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA.
• When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire.
• You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.).
• If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation.
• Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 “Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference” with required proof as stated on the form.
• Documentation is required to award preference.
• For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.