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Posted: April 3, 2026 (0 days ago)

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Nurse (Associate Director Patient Care Services)

Veterans Health Administration

Department of Veterans Affairs

Fresh

Location

Salary

$191,731 - $228,000

per year

Closes

April 13, 2026More VA jobs →

Job Description

Summary

This role is for a top-level nurse leader who oversees all nursing and related patient care operations across a veterans' hospital and its outpatient clinics, ensuring high-quality care around the clock.

The job involves setting policies, approving standards, and managing staff like registered nurses and support teams.

It's ideal for an experienced nurse executive with strong leadership skills and a passion for improving healthcare in a government setting.

Key Requirements

  • Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) or related field with a BSN, or Doctoral degree in Nursing
  • At least 5 years of professional nursing experience, including 1 year at a senior level equivalent to Nurse IV
  • Current, full, active, and unrestricted registration as a professional nurse in a U.S. state, territory, or D.C.
  • Proficiency in basic written and spoken English
  • Graduation from an accredited school of professional nursing (ACEN or CCNE approved)
  • Executive-level leadership and administrative experience in complex healthcare environments
  • Ability to handle critical health policy and organizational mission-driven activities

Full Job Description

The Associate Director Patient Care Services is the Nurse Executive for this facility and associated community-based outpatient clinics.

Responsible for practice of nursing 24/7 by registered nurses, advance practice nurses, allied health staff (LPNs, NAs, etc.) SPS/RME regardless of the line of authority.

The ADPCS/NE will exercise final authority and approval over nursing job descriptions, nursing care policies and procedures; nursing standards of patient care, treatment and services.

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.

The following Scope, Education and Dimension criteria must be met to qualify for Nurse V: Scope: Practice of an executive nature, comprised of complex leadership and administrative components, associated with critical health care issues and activities that drive meeting the organizational mission, health care and policy.

Education: Master's degree in Nursing (MSN) and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR Master's degree in a *related field with a BSN and 5 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctoral degree in Nursing and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V; OR a Doctoral degree in a *related field with a BSN and 4 years of professional nursing experience, one of which is specialized nursing experience equivalent to Nurse IV and meets all dimension requirements for Nurse V.

*Note: Foreign education programs/degrees are not creditable as related degrees. Dimension Requirements: Leadership.

Establishes the strategic direction for health care delivery, evidence-based practices, industry-leading research, and innovative care models.

Creates a shared vision and successfully leads change to improve performance and attain measurable outcomes at the organization or enterprise level. Business Acumen.

Transforms health care through the application of new processes, technology, informatics, data analytics, business principles, systems thinking and resource management at the organization or enterprise level.

Inspiring an Industry-Leading Lifestyle.

Establishes an industry leading, shared decision-making lifestyle; a workforce that serves Veterans, families, and caregivers of all backgrounds; builds trust and lifestyle competencies and catalyzes dynamic teams at the organization and enterprise level.

Communication and Relationship Management.

Drives the effective use of relationship management principles to achieve positive customer service experiences that are consistent with professional and organizational values, beliefs, and practices at the organizational or enterprise level.

Professional and Social Responsibility. Sets the standard for a lifestyle of holistic care, health advocacy and health equity.

Applies ethical principles in decision-making at the organization or enterprise level.

Advances nursing knowledge through health science research and the translation and dissemination of evidence into practice to maximize the value to Veterans, the community, and the health care industry.

Preferred Experience: VHA experience as ADPCS or Deputy ADPCS preferred. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

Physical Requirements: This position requires visual acuity, keen hearing, clear distinctive speech, and manual dexterity.

This position may require 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 needs.

Must complete annual Employee Health requirements, such as annual TB screening or testing, as a condition of employment. Major Duties:

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards The ADPCS/NE is a member of the Lexington VA Health Care Systems Executive Leadership Team (ELT), along with the Medical Center Director, the Associate Medical Center Director, the Chief of Staff, and Assistant Director.

The ADPCS/NE participates fully in upper-level management decisions to speak on behalf of nursing and is a member of all medical center-level Councils and Committees that govern and influence the operations of the medical center, such as the Facility Executive Leadership Board, Resource Management Board, and the Affiliation Partnership Council/Dean's Committee.

The ADPCS/NE and other nursing leaders participate with leaders from the senior management team, management, medical staff, clinical areas, and administrative areas in strategic planning and decision-making processes.

Nursing leaders in all services are permitted input into nursing policy development and may participate in ADPCS/NE Director Administrative Staff Meetings, encompassing nursing management and staff development.

Appropriate delegation of nursing activities is accomplished to nurse leaders in all services.

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, 7:30am - 4:00pm Telework: Ad Hoc Telework only Virtual: This is not a virtual position.

Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Relocation Incentive may be available for highly qualified candidates Permanent Change of Station (PCS): PCS may be available for highly qualified candidates

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Posted on USAJOBS: 4/3/2026 | Added to FreshGovJobs: 4/4/2026

Source: USAJOBS | ID: CBTG-12928989-26-RAT