Nurse; Chief - Sterile Processing Service

VA Palo Alto Health Care System serves a diverse population, offering a range of medical, surgical, neurological, psychiatric, and home-based primary care services. The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) at Palo Alto VA is a high-responsibility position reporting to the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS). Responsibilities include collaborating with the Associate Director for Patient Care Service/Nursing Services and other departments to ensure effective administration, education, and consultation.

Supports nurse managers and advanced practitioners, shaping standards of care and policies, participating in policy-making activities, and collaborating with healthcare staff to enhance nursing organization-wide. The Nurse IV Chief of SPS plays a leadership role in ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of quality and effectiveness of SPS program outcomes. Manages various administrative functions of the SPS program and is a member of multiple committees.

These committees include Infection Prevention/Control, Water Safety, Clinical Executive Council, Veterans Integrated Services Network Advisory Board, Clinical Product Review, Reusable Medical Device, Environment of Care Rounds, and Enterprise Equipment Request. Performs as an administrator, educator, and consultant, collaborating with Patient Care Service and other departments. Maintains relationships with medical center personnel, customers, and community members. Key relationships with staff are also crucial for carrying out functions, establishing standards of care, enhancing nursing under SPS, making policy decisions, and maintaining collaborative programs across disciplines.

VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards 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:
Available;
Ad-hoc

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. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements. Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL  cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment.

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). You may be required to serve a probationary period. Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement.

Qualifications 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…