Pmhnp/Section Chief

This position is multi-disciplinary, and is being offered to multiple disciplines. The candidate will be chosen from one of four different announcements. This announcement is for an IMPACT Unit Leader (IUL)/Section Chief for one of the outpatient units in the VA San Diego Mental Health Care Line (MHCL). The primary purpose of the IUL is to provide leadership, budgetary oversight, and programmatic management to programs and staff and supervision to all assigned staff within the unit.
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. 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.
• Master's or Doctoral Degree from a program accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing or the Commission (ACEN-Formerly NCLAC) or the Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE).
• 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.
• Nurse Practitioners must be licensed or otherwise recognized as a nurse practitioner in a State and maintain full and current certification as a nurse practitioner from the American Nurses Association or another nationally recognized certifying body. The certification must be in the specialty to which the individual is being appointed or selected.

Preferred Experience and Certifications:

• Minimum of two (2) years professional experience with program administration, such as translating management goals and policy, and/or developing and implementing solutions in support of sound program and service operations in the delivery of outpatient mental health (e.g. BHIP or PTSD) and recovery-oriented treatment.
• Dependability and the ability to function independently.
• Clinical and administrative leadership experience in complex, interdisciplinary health care systems.
• Ability to gain the trust and respect of a highly diverse staff of peers and subordinates in order to achieve the mission of honoring and serving Veterans through excellence in healthcare.
• Ability to organize work, set priorities, delegate tasks, and meet multiple deadlines.
• Ability to establish and monitor production and performance priorities and standards.
• Skill in managing and directing the work of others to accomplish program goals and objectives, and adapt work operations to new and changing programs, staffing, and budget requirements, etc.
• Ability to deal effectively with individuals or groups representing widely divergent backgrounds, interests, and points of view.
• Ability to effectively supervise and manage subordinate employees from a variety of professional backgrounds.
• Skill in interpersonal relationships, including conflict resolution.
• Skill in working collaboratively with other disciplines and supervisors.
• Demonstrated understanding of factors that impact access to mental health and experience working to balance access and quality.
• Demonstrated familiarity and experience with VA rules and regulations relating to community care, including the Mission Act.
• Ability to understand and use systems redesign or other performance improvement methodologies to optimize the delivery of high-quality healthcare services
• Ability to integrate research and training programs smoothly into the functioning of clinical care programs.
• Ability to translate management goals and objectives into well-coordinated and controlled work operations.
• Knowledge of, and ability to appropriately utilize, evidence-based practices and clinical practice guidelines and ability to guide staff in using these tools.

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 III - Master's degree in nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN and no additional nursing practice/experience.
• Nurse II - Master's degree in nursing or related field with a BSN and approximately 1-2 year's 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 year's of nursing practice/experience; OR a Doctoral degree and approximately 2-3 year's 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.
Reference: VA Regulations, specifically VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G-6 Nurse Qualification Standard. This can be found in the local Human Resources Office.
Physical Requirements: In accordance with VA Directive and Handbook 5019Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting and Carrying (45 lbs. and over); Straight Pulling, Pushing, Walking, Standing, Kneeling, Repeated bending, Keyboarding, Viewing computer screen (8 - 12 hours); Reaching above shoulder; Use of fingers; Both hands and 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 20/40 in the other; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Hearing (aid permitted); and Emotional/Mental stability.Education:
Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.Employment Type: FULL_TIME