Clinical Nurse Leader

<p>The Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) Registered Nurse in the Community Living Center (CLC) is responsible and accountable for providing leadership in the delivery of safe, high-quality, Veteran-centered care for residents receiving skilled nursing, rehabilitation, long-term, hospice, dementia, and restorative care services. The CNL functions as an advanced clinician, care coordinator, educator, and quality improvement leader, collaborating with the interdisciplinary team promoting clinical outcomes.</p><h3>Major Duties</h3><p>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. Program 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. EDRP Authorized: Former EDRP participants ineligible to apply for incentive. Contact VHA.ELRSProgramSupport@va.gov, the EDRP Coordinator for questions/assistance. Learn more The CNL oversees clinical operations, supports staff development, facilitates care transitions, monitors performance measures, and ensures compliance with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Veterans Health Administration (VHA), accreditation, and regulatory standards while fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous quality improvement. Duties include: Provides clinical leadership and oversight for nursing care delivered within the Community Living Center (CLC). Coordinates and evaluates comprehensive, individualized plans of care for Veterans residing in skilled nursing, rehabilitation, hospice, palliative, memory care, and long-term care units. Leads interdisciplinary team collaboration to ensure coordinated, Veteran-centered care that promotes quality outcomes and safe transitions across the continuum of care. Utilizes evidence-based practice, clinical guidelines, and quality improvement methodologies to improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, and operational performance. Monitors clinical quality indicators, performance metrics, and compliance with VA, VHA, accreditation, infection prevention, and regulatory requirements. Identifies opportunities for process improvement and leads initiatives to reduce adverse events, prevent hospital readmissions, improve resident satisfaction, and enhance quality of care. Conducts clinical rounding, case reviews, chart audits, and documentation reviews to ensure adherence to professional standards and organizational policies. Serves as a clinical resource and mentor to registered nurses, licensed vocational nurses, nursing assistants, and other healthcare staff through coaching, education, and competency development. Facilitates staff education regarding evidence-based practices, clinical protocols, patient safety initiatives, and quality improvement activities. Collaborates with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, pharmacists, social workers, dietitians, psychologists, and other members of the interdisciplinary team to address complex resident care needs. Participates in root cause analyses, performance improvement projects, and patient safety investigations to identify system improvements. Supports admission, discharge, and transfer planning while coordinating continuity of care with inpatient units, outpatient clinics, home health, and community partners. Promotes resident and family engagement by providing education, facilitating shared decision-making, and addressing concerns in a timely and professional manner. Assists nurse managers with staffing coordination, workload management, policy implementation, and operational planning as assigned. Demonstrates leadership in emergency preparedness, infection prevention, fall prevention, pressure injury prevention, medication safety, and behavioral health management. Maintains current knowledge of geriatric nursing, long-term care regulations, quality standards, and VA initiatives affecting Community Living Centers. Participates in committees, accreditation surveys, quality councils, and organizational initiatives that support continuous performance improvement. Serves as a role model for professional nursing practice, ethical decision-making, and the VA ICARE Values of Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect, and Excellence. 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: Full-time; 7:30am-4:00pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized</p><h3>Requirements</h3>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 (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant 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.<h3>Education</h3>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/.