Summary

The Assistant Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a direct report to the Chief of SPS of the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of sterile processing service focused on high level disinfection - sterilization - sterile storage - infection control and prevention - staff education - self-management - and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care.

Qualifications

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/12706279
• 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
• Preferred Experience: Demonstrates leadership when providing SPS processing services or developing programs which will improve the delivery of satisfactory patient care
• Provide managerial and administrative oversight for a single or multiple processing sites
• Oversees all decontamination - sterilization and disposition of facility critical and semi-critical RME
• Develops and maintains a system of internal reviews that ensure service clinics operate in compliance with regulatory and accrediting organizations
• Makes selections - assigns personnel and provides direction to subordinate staff
• Manages the training - documenting and evaluating of staff
• Works to meet designated clinical - facility - VISN and national performance measures
• Demonstrates leadership by identifying and maintaining SPS/infection control standards for the practice of all services
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/
• Physical Requirements: -Heavy lifting - 45 pounds and over -Moderate carrying - 15-44 pounds and over -Straight pulling (2 hours) -Pushing-Reaching above shoulder -Use of fingers -Both hands required -Walking (8 hours) -Standing (8 hours) -Kneeling (1/4 hours) -Repeated bending (2 hours) -Both Legs required -Ability for rapid mental and muscular coordination simultaneously -Near vision correctable at 13" to 16" to Jaeger 1 to 4 -Far vision correctable in one eye to 20/20 and to 20/40 in the other -Both eyes required -Depth perception -Ability to distinguish basic colors -Ability to distinguish shades of colors -Hearing (aid may be permitted) -Mental and Emotional Stability working with infectious PT-COVID-19 - TB - Etc Environmental Factors: -Excessive noise - intermittent -radiant energy -electrical energy -slippery or uneven walking surfaces -unusual fatigue factors (working) -working with hands in water -Working closely with others -Working alone -Protracted or irregular hours of work -Irregular hours of work -wearing aseptic mask

Duties

• Assistant Chief of SPS executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to management of SPS processes
• The Assistant Chief of SPS demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to impact the entire SPS department
• The Assistant Chief of SPS assists with the documented outcomes at the service level
• Service level outcomes must be broad and complex and can be demonstrated at any organizational level within a facility
• Duties include but are not limited to the following: Leads and organizes SPS program that impacts delivery of Sterile Processing programs operational aspects with an added emphasis on delivering critical and semi-critical RMD services to all areas where it is needed
• Applies technical and clinical SPS knowledge/judgment to lead staff involvement in planning - decision-making - and evaluating outcomes within the SPS program
• Effectively functions as a leader - with demonstrated outcomes - for the SPS program
• 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 thru Friday 7:00am-3:30pm - or as patient care dictates
• This is an assistant Chief position and this is a 24/7/365 hospital
• Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized