Assistant Nurse Manager - Surgical Specialty Clinics and Surgical Care Coordination

Full Job Description

The Assistant Nurse Manager supports the Nurse Manager with supervisory duties and responsibility and accountability for the 24/7 operation of their designated units.

They provide coverage for other ANMs as needed.

The ANM has responsibility and accountability for the direction and supervision of specific orientation, training, development of staff, and provides input into the evaluation of individual staff performance.

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/12922410.

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 Minimum education and license Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from an accredited program (no substitutions). Current, unrestricted RN license in a U.S. state or territory.

Current Basic Life Support (BLS) for Healthcare Providers Work location, schedule, and travel Ability and willingness to work a flexible schedule (including occasional off-tours) to meet 24/7 operational needs.

Ability and willingness to travel routinely to CBOC locations (Oceanside, Chula Vista, Kearny Mesa) with La Jolla Hospital as home base to provide on site support and leadership.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: Heavy Lifting (45 lbs and over); Straight Pulling, Pushing, Walking, Standing, Repeated bending (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; Both eyes required; Depth perception; Ability to distinguish basic colors and shades of colors; Ability to speak clearly, audibly, and effectively to communicate with patients, staff, and others in a busy clinical environment; Hearing (aid permitted); Emotional/Mental stability; Keyboarding and reading computer screen (8-12 hours intermittently over scheduled shift).

Major Duties:

The major duties and responsibilities of the Surgical Specialty Clinics/Surgical Care Coordination Assistant Nurse Manager include: 1.

Assists the Nurse Manager (NM) in ensuring 24/7 accountability in planning, managing, and providing high-quality patient care for Surgical Specialty care in the clinics and with Surgical Care Coordination 2.

Functions as a Surgical Clinic RN and Surgical Care Coordinator, front-line staff member, and resource staff when department needs require it. 3.

Serves as a clinical resource for personnel in surgical specialty care and for surgical care coordination practices using advanced knowledge, evidence, and prevailing clinical recommendations to guide the development of standards for optimal patient care.

4. Utilizes basic performance improvement tools and procedural/infusion scheduling programs to assist the NM in analyzing data to improve efficiency and safety. 5.

Helps analyze data (surgical clinic utilization, surgical scheduling utilization metrics, overtime use reports, etc.) and supports the creation and implementation of performance improvement plans. 6.

Helps direct the flow of surgical clinic scheduling and surgical care coordination, ensuring effective use of staffing resources.

Provides functional expertise essential to supporting both staff and leadership. 7.

Acts as a liaison between supervisors, physicians, nursing personnel, patients/families, and other departments to ensure smooth transitions of patient care activities. 8.

Assists the NM in identifying staff educational needs and ensuring mandatory training. 9. Attends all mandatory training, seeks opportunities for improvement and promotes creative thinking. 10.

Responsible for creating the staff schedule, managing staffing request changes, and maintaining adequate staffing levels. 11.

Participates in and supports system redesign projects to improve unit performance. 12.

Actively participates in and supports Shared Governance and Relationship Based Care and related activities at the department level. 13.

Assists the NM in assessing staff educational needs and ensure completion of mandatory training. 14.

Assists the NM in assessing nursing performance, writing appraisals, maintaining competency folders, and recruitment activities. 15.

Supports the development and implementation of policies/procedures, ensuring enforcement and compliance 16. Facilitates communication between departmental staff.

Meets regularly with medical staff to share information and problem solve.

Preferred Experience Required experience Minimum of 2 years recent experience serving in a formal or functional leadership role (Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager, Supervisor, or Charge RN) in a surgical specialty or perioperative/ambulatory surgical setting.

Demonstrated experience coordinating and overseeing clinic operations or care coordination activities (e.g., surgical clinic scheduling, procedural care, performance improvement projects).

Evidence of leading or significantly contributing to quality/performance improvement, patient safety, or evidence based practice initiatives.

Role-specific clinical/leadership skills Demonstrated clinical expertise in surgical specialty nursing, including use of the full nursing process in an ambulatory or procedural environment.

Demonstrated ability to provide department-level leadership: staff scheduling, assignment of staff, supporting 24/7 operations, and assisting with staff performance evaluation/competency.

Experience collaborating with interdisciplinary teams and acting as a liaison between physicians, nursing, ancillary departments, and patients/families.

Proven ability to use data (utilization, scheduling, overtime, quality metrics such as SAIL/NDNQI/VASQIP) to drive decisions and improvement. Regulatory, systems, and communication expectations.

Working knowledge of The Joint Commission, VA, OSHA, and ambulatory surgery/clinic regulatory standards, or ability to demonstrate quick proficiency.

Proficiency in electronic health record and clinic scheduling/management systems; ability to use clinical applications daily.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a track record of teamwork, conflict resolution, and customer service.

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 - Friday 0730-1600 Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position.