Registered Nurse (Infection Control)

Summary
This position is eligible for the Education Debt Reduction Program (EDRP), a student loan payment reimbursement program. You must meet specific individual eligibility requirements in accordance with VHA policy and submit your EDRP application within four months of appointment. Approval, award amount (up to $200,000) and eligibility period (one to five years) are determined by the VHA Education Loan Repayment Services program office after complete review of the EDRP application.
This job is open to

• Internal to an agency
  Current federal employees of this agency.
• The public
  U.S. Citizens, Nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.

Clarification from the agency
Current permanent employees of the VA Central Western Massachusetts Healthcare System including permanent Veterans Canteen Service employees, current permanent full-time Hybrid Title 38 and permanent full-time Title 38 employees. Past/Current/Upcoming Graduates of VHA Health Trainee Programs (HPT) are eligible to apply (must send proof such as an SF-50 with application) or US Citizens
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Duties
This Registered Nurse (Infection Control) position is located in the Nursing Services at the Leeds, MA location. This position is full time at 40 hours per week.
Included but are not limited to:
The Infection Prevention and Control Registered Nurse is accountable to the Associate Director Patient Care Services/Chief Nurse.

• The Infection Prevention and Control Registered Nurse provides direct staff support to service line managers, service chiefs and others in planning, designing, integrating, implementing, modifying, and administering the Infection Prevention and Control Program.
• The Infection Prevention and Control Registered Nurse:

1. Coordinates activities throughout the hospital to prevent and control infections.
2. Set standards for a safe environment.
3. Demonstrates leadership, experience, and creativity in the management of complex client care.

The Infection Prevention and Control Registered Nurse, applies clinical expertise and knowledge of healthcare programs. In collaboration with other experts, the Infection Prevention and Control Registered Nurse:

• Implements and maintains elements of specific Infection Control and Prevention Programs to evaluate the quality of patient care and/or the appropriateness and timeliness of services provided.
• Works with the Director of Performance Management and others to promote quality in clinical practice by collaborating in the development of guidelines and criteria for measuring the quality and appropriateness of patient care delivered.
• Analyzes data and reports information to identify the need for change in subscribed areas that may include the need to minimize risk and ensure effectiveness of clinical quality improvement.
• Provides support to CQI as an approach to assess and improve the quality of patient care.
• Applies CQI tools in data collection and identifies barriers to the achievement of quality improvement in circumscribed facility wide programs or committees, or in individual services.
• Advises and assists the Director of Performance Management in policy review, formulation, communication, implementation and evaluation and in setting of institutional priorities related to committees, services and/or program elements.
• Identifies patterns and/or trends and ensures that the identification of issues to modify and improve the program to facilitate the accomplishment of Performance Management goals and objectives.
• Assist in medical center activities and preparations for Joint Commission and other external reviews.
• Monitors the follow-up to recommendations specific to the utilization of risk resulting from Joint Commission and other external review visits and formulates communication through the Director of Performance Management to the Joint Commission and other external agents regarding these reviews.
• Utilizes clinical research results as a basis for identifying clinical issues that are appropriate for study.
• Researches, interprets, identifies, develops, and presents elements of educational programs for healthcare professionals and supports services regarding areas supported.
• Acquires and maintains current knowledge relevant to the principles, practices, and techniques associated with nursing, Infection Control and Prevention and other clinical professions through literature and periodical review, workshop attendance, and/or the use of sound benchmarking practices.
• Serves as consultant on clinical issues and/or continuous improvement initiatives.
• Serves as coordinator of activities for the organization's Methicillin Resistant Staph Aureus (MRSA), Multiple Drug Resistant Organism (MDRO) program.

Work Schedule: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Compressed/Flexible: Not Available
Telework: Ad-Hoc
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
Financial Disclosure Report: Not required
Notifications:

• This is a Bargaining Unit Position
• This position is in the Excepted Service
• Current and former Federal employees must submit copies of their most recent SF-50, (Notice of Personnel Action). The SF-50 must identify the position title, series, grade, step, tenure and type of service (Competitive or Excepted). In some cases, more than one SF-50 may be required to show a higher grade previously held.
• This position is covered by a special rate.

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
VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards
Requirements
Conditions of Employment

• 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.
• Must be proficient in written and spoken English.
• You may be required to serve a probationary period.
• Subject to background/security investigation.
• Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process.
• 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).
• Participation in the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program is a requirement for all Veterans Health Administration Health Care Personnel (HCP) - See "Additional Information" below for details.
• Selectee must have a valid unrestricted driving license.
• Selectee must have a safe driving record.

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 the appropriate State-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). 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.
• Driver's License: Unrestricted state Driver's License.
• Driving Record: Candidate must have a clean driving record for the past five years.

Preferred Experience:

• 1-3 years of Infection Control/Prevention

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.
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: All applicants must be physically able to satisfactorily perform the duties of the position. A pre-placement physical examination shall be completed prior to appointment.
Education
IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on 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/.
The Associate Degree Nursing (ADN), Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing (BSN), or Master of Science degree in Nursing (MSN) must be fully accredited by the Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or the Commission On Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). Verification of accreditation may be obtained from http://www.acenursing.us/accreditedprograms/programsearch.htm or https://directory.ccnecommunity.org/reports/accprog.asp.

• If your school has changed names, or is no longer in existence, you must provide this information in your application.
• If your school was accredited by ACEN or CCNE at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet.

Additional information
This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.
This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
Pursuant to VHA Directive 1193.01, VHA health care personnel (HCP) are required to be fully vaccinated agains...