Nurse - Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS)

Summary

The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a direct report to the Associate Director - Patient Care Services at Carl Vinson VA Medical Center - located in Dublin - Georgia.

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 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:
• 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
• Reference: For more information on this qualification standard - please visit
• Preferred experience: 2 - years experience in Sterile Processing Leadership role with skills in team management - staff training - and performance evaluation - across multiple physical sterilization sites
• 5 - years experience with extensive high-level sterilization processing or surgical services - the equipment involved in such work - and engagement with engineering staff involved in managing facilities where such work is accomplished
• 2 - years experience demonstrating strong administrative skills and providing information to executive members of a health care setting
• 2 - years experience with accreditation and regulatory standards such as those set by The Joint Commission (TJC) - Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - and Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI)
• Holds VA Level 1 and 2 Sterile Processing training - prefer Healthcare Sterile Processing Association (HSPA) Certified Registered Central Service Technician (CRCST) - Certified Instrument Specialist (CIS) or former Certification in Instrumental Sterilization (CCIS) and Certified Healthcare Leader (CHL) certifications
• Physical Requirements: This position may include a level of physicality normally associated with duties performed by nurses such as direct patient care - and potentially long periods of walking - standing - sitting - moderate lifting - repeated bending - or kneeling
• Examples may include but are not limited to: Significant amounts of time standing assisting assigned patients Utilization of safe patient handling and mobility protocols Position specific duties/expectations are detailed in the associated competency and should be performed once the competency has been validated
• This position potentially requires flexibility in schedule and assignments.

Duties

• Major Duties: The Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is a direct report to the Associate Director - Patient Care Services at Carl Vinson VA Medical Center
• Delivers fundamental knowledge-based interventions while developing technical skills
• This position is characterized by responsibility and accountability for all elements of nursing process when providing oversight and direction for aspects of SPS across the organization and assessing outcomes
• The Chief of SPS assesses - plans - implements - and evaluates outcomes
• The Chief of SPS assumes responsibility for the coordination of all aspects of the sterile processing service to include high level disinfection - sterilization - sterile storage - infection control and prevention as well as customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care
• Ensures that all applicable Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies and guidelines are followed and that the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines are followed per VHA Directive 1116
• The Chief of SPS is an integral part of the medical center leadership team and influences care outcomes by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team
• The membership on the following committees: Infection Prevention/Control
• Water Safety Committee (Biomedical Engineering)
• Clinical Executive Council (CEC)
• Veterans Integrated Services Network (VISN) 7 Advisory Board
• Clinical Product Review Committee (CPRC)
• Reusable Medical Device (RMD) Committee - Environment of Care (EOC) Rounds
• and the Enterprise Equipment Request (EER) Committee
• The Chief of SPS must establish and maintain effective relationships with all levels of medical center personnel and relate effectively with customers - families - and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels
• Key relationships with staff are needed to assist SPS managers - supervisors - key personnel - and Lead Medical Staff Technicians (MST) to carry out the functions and activities expected of them
• Contribute ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care outcomes - policies - and objectives for the enhancement of Sterile Processing - organization wide
• Assists in policy-making activities as related to customer service and the overall functioning of administrative and SPS program and collaborate with other health care staff to establish and maintain programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence organizational mission and health care
• The Chief Nurse of SPS Registered Nurse (RN) plays a leadership role in ongoing systematic evaluation and improvement of quality and effectiveness of SPS program outcomes
• The incumbent provides health system-wide leadership for critical and semi-critical RMD - including sterile storage - reprocessing - standard operating procedures (SOP) - competency assessment - selection - operation - and maintenance of reprocessing equipment - staff education program for RMDs - and quality management of SPS
• The incumbent is responsible for assessing - monitoring - developing - and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing - decontamination - sterilization - storage - biological monitoring - and high-level disinfection oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD
• The incumbent assesses the environment - analyzes trends - transmits data - communicates ideas - develops - and implements policies - initiates programs and systems - and collaborates in the management of resources
• The incumbent has knowledge in areas of patient care practices - microbiology - asepsis - disinfection/sterilization process - adult education - infectious diseases - communication - program administration and epidemiology
• 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: 8:00am - 4:30pm Telework: Yes - Ad-hoc as determined by the agency policy
• Virtual: This is not a virtual position
• Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: May be Authorized
• Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Authorized

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The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) is the largest integrated health care system in the United States, providing care at 1,321 health care facilities, including 172 VA Medical Centers and 1,138 outpatient sites of care of varying complexity (VHA outpatient clinics) to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA health care program. VHA Medical Centers provide a wide range of services including traditional hospital-based services such as surgery, critical care, mental health, orthopedics, pharmacy, radiology and physical therapy. In addition, most of our medical centers offer additional medical and surgical specialty services including audiology & speech pathology, dermatology, dental, geriatrics, neurology, oncology, podiatry, prosthetics, urology, and vision care. Some medical centers also offer advanced services such as organ transplants and plastic surgery.

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