Summary

The Veterans Affairs Surgery Quality Improvement Program Quality Consultant- (VASQIP)/Implant Coordinator Registered Nurse functions as an advanced clinician and executes position responsibilities that demonstrate leadership - experience - and creative approaches to the management of complex surgical patient care. Demonstrates performance and leadership that is broad enough to improve the care for surgical patients.

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met.

Basic Requirements:

• United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy
• English Language Proficiency
• In accordance with 38 U.S.C. 7402(d) - 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 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)
• The approving official may authorize a waiver of the requirement for ACEN or CCNE accreditation of any degree in nursing provided the college or university has regional accreditation from an accrediting body recognized by the Department of Education at the time of the candidate's graduation and the composite qualifications of the applicant warrant such consideration
• In cases of graduates of foreign schools of professional nursing - possession of current - full - active and unrestricted registration will meet the requirement of graduation from an approved school of professional nursing
• OR The completion of coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing
• Students should submit the certificate of professional nursing to sit for the NCLEX to the VA along with a copy of the MSN transcript
• (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
• 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
• Grade Determinations: The following criteria must be met in determining the grade assignment of candidates - and if appropriate - the level within a grade: Nurse I Level I - An Associate Degree (ADN) or Diploma in Nursing - with no additional nursing practice/experience required
• Nurse I Level II - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 1 year of nursing practice/experience
• OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a bachelor's degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience
• OR a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN) with no additional nursing practice/experience
• Nurse I Level III - An ADN or Diploma in Nursing and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR an ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a BSN with approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience
• Nurse II - A BSN with approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR ADN or Diploma in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in a related field and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Doctoral degree in nursing or meets basic requirements for appointment and has doctoral degree in a related field with no additional nursing practice/experience required
• Nurse III - Master's degree in nursing or related field with BSN and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 years of nursing practice/experience
• Note regarding MSN degrees: If your MSN was obtained via a Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration - a BSN is not required
• Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity - keen hearing - clear distinctive speech - and manual dexterity
• This position requires potentially long periods of continued walking - standing - stooping - sitting - bending - pulling - and pushing
• Transferring patients and objects may be required
• The incumbent may be exposed to infected patients and contaminated materials and may be required to don protective clothing in isolation situations or operative/invasive procedures
• The incumbent may occasionally be exposed to patients who are combative secondary to delirium - dementia - or psychiatric disorders
• The incumbent must be a mature - flexible - sensible individual capable of working effectively in stressful situations - able to shift priorities based on patient needs
• Must complete annual Employee Health requirements - such as annual TB screening or testing - as a condition of employment.

Duties

• The Registered Nurse (RN) demonstrates leadership - experience - and creative approaches to improvement in quality-of-care outcomes
• Effectively utilizes all aspects of the nursing process to provide optimal quality review of surgical care provided to patients undergoing operative procedures using defined metrics established by the NSO through VASQIP
• Identifies surgical cases for inclusion into the NSO database based on appropriate selection criteria
• Based on established NSO detailed definitions of each preoperative - operative - and outcome measures
• The VASQIP/Implant Coordinator RN comprehends and effectively analyzes the clinical contents of medical records and associated documents in terms of quality and appropriateness of care issues such as adherence to or deviation from accepted diagnostic and treatment protocols - including drug therapies - and the presence or absence of expected outcomes
• Possesses clinical knowledge of medical care processes and the analytical ability to correlate clinical diagnosis and symptoms with established diagnostic and treatment modalities
• Maintains current knowledge of research and incorporates the findings into the measurement and evaluation of clinical practice will collect and enter data into the NSO database within the required times
• Analyzes the data and reports information to identify the need for change in surgical service that may include the need to minimize risk and ensure effectiveness of clinical quality improvement
• The clinically derived data is validated - formatted - and analyzed to characterize prevailing mortality and morbidity rates - both unadjusted and risk adjusted
• Communicates and collaborates with the interdisciplinary team on any findings to analyze care trends and identify opportunities for improved quality of care
• Participates in other quality-related initiatives within the Surgery Service and throughout the medical center
• Maintains effective communication skills
• Serves as a consultant for VASQIP and quality-related matters
• The VASQIP/Implant Coordinator also possesses an understanding of surgical procedures utilizing implants and specialty dedicated instruments and equipment
• Organizes information from multiple sources - collaborates with internal departs and external vendors to ensure that all required elements are available in a state of readiness for posted procedures
• Assures that all surgical team members are supported in the use of implants and instruments as well as educated and supported with their proper use
• Responsible for menu development - periodic reviews - recurring reports as assigned regarding surgical implants and loaner instruments within the OR
• Rounds frequently to monitor inventories and query staff on usage practices to continuously adjust on shelf totals to avoid waste/loss.
• Serves as the OR designated point of contact for all surgical vendors
• The The VASQIP/Implant Coordinator RN comprehends and effectively analyzes the clinical contents of medical records and associated documents in terms of quality and appropriateness of care issues such as adherence to or deviation from accepted diagnostic and treatment protocols - including drug therapies - and the presence or absence of expected outcomes
• Possesses clinical knowledge of medical care processes and the analytical ability to correlate clinical diagnosis and symptoms with established diagnostic and treatment modalities
• Maintains current knowledge of research and incorporates the findings into the measurement and evaluation of clinical practice comprehends and effectively analyzes the clinical contents of medical records and associated documents in terms of quality and appropriateness of care issues such as adherence to or deviation from accepted diagnostic and treatment protocols - including drug therapies - and the presence or absence of expected outcomes
• Possesses clinical knowledge of medical care processes and the analytical ability to correlate clinical diagnosis and symptoms with established diagnostic and treatment modalities
• Maintains current knowledge of research and incorporates the findings into the measurement and evaluation of clinical practice
• Performs duties directly contributing to the administrative management of the surgical health care delivery system
• Provides clinical expertise and perspective necessary to integrate the NSO and Veterans Health Administration (VHA) directives and regulations into the local surgical department and surgical quality review process
• Provides a basis for change in practice through findings from research and quality assessment studies
• And other duties as assigned
• PREFERRED EXPERIENCE: Peri-Operative Experience Preferred Work Schedule: 08:00am - 4:30pm Monday - Friday Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Bargaining Unit: Yes Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required