Job Opportunities: National Center for Ethics in Health Care

Vacancy Announcement

National Center for Ethics in Health Care

Job Title:  NURSE ETHICIST IV

Department:  Department Of Veterans Affairs

Agency:  Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration

Job Announcement Number:  AJP-13-DLL-775317

All applications must be submitted thru the USAJobs website:  https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/330627300

JOB SUMMARY:

Vacancy Identification Number (VIN): 775317

Salary: Applicant's education and experience will be reviewed by a Professional Standards Board in determining the grade and salary of the applicant selected.  The recommended salary may be at any point in the range listed for this vacancy.

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) needs employees who possess the energy, compassion, and commitment to serve those who serve our Country.  Whatever the job title, every position in VA will give you a chance to make a meaningful and personal contribution to the lives of truly special and deserving people - our Veterans. 

Working for VA is one of the most emotionally satisfying and professionally rewarding ways to dedicate the best within you to your country's service.

If you are transitioning from the military or a Veteran already, we invite you to explore the benefits of continuing your career at the VA.  The VA is committed to hiring Veterans. 

The VA is much more than just another employer.  It is an honorable, open and welcoming community of those who care.  Gratitude is our motivation and service is our mission.

The VA has adopted Core Values and Characteristics that apply universally across the Department.  The five Core Values define “who we are,” our culture, and how we care for Veterans, their families and other beneficiaries.  The Values are Integrity, Commitment, Advocacy, Respect and Excellence (“I CARE”).

America's Veterans need you!

To find out more, go to http://www.va.gov/jobs/.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• US citizenship
• Random drug testing
• Background/suitability investigation
• Physical standards

DUTIES:

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Note: This position will be located in any one of the National Center of Ethics in Health Care (NCEHC) offices either in Washington, DC; New York, NY; or Seattle, WA. This position will not be hired as a virtual position.

The NCEHC is Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) primary office for addressing the complex ethical issues that arise in patient care, health care management, and research. NCEHC's role is to clarify and promote ethical health care practices throughout VHA and nationwide and is guided by the premise that ethics is essential to quality.  NCEHC serves as a resource for VHA leaders and staff on issues in clinical, organizational, and research ethics. IntegratedEthics (IE) is an award-winning national program led by the NCEHC to improve ethics quality in health care.  IE is a major, long-term, and highly visible initiative that directly supports NCEHC strategic goals and several national policies for which the NCEHC is responsible. Major duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Manages field-based implementation of the Ethics Consultation function of the IE initiative and makes significant contributions to the IE initiative as a whole;
• Identifies gaps in quality, knowledge, or processes in ethics consultation in VHA and develops approaches to address the needs;
• Disseminates specific health care ethics consultation methods and techniques developed as part of the IE initiative;
• Drafts annual performance metrics, monitors facility performance, and recommends supportive and corrective actions to achieve high quality ethics consultation services across VHA; 
• Develops educational content (e.g., resource tools, educational courses, scripted presentations) and provides coaching (e.g., via phone, email, in-person) to Ethics Consultation Coordinators;
• Participates in activities and work processes that support effective teamwork in a virtual environment and result in successful achievement of assigned responsibilities;
• Performs activities required to maintain an active clinical nursing credential; and,
• Performs all other duties as assigned.

Work Schedule: Monday through Friday; 8:00AM - 4:30PM (negotiable); The employee may have the potential to work from home (Telework).

Salary Range: Salary will be recommended by a Professional Standards Board and will conform to the locality pay in effect at the host facility for the individual selected.

Note: This position requires the completion of a Dependent Credentialing process (Vetpro). Submission of your credentials in the VetPro Credentialing System is required of all VHA licensed, registered, and certified health care providers. This system is used nationwide at all VHA health care facilities.  

Designated Drug-Testing Position: 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. Applicants will not be appointed to the position if a verified positive drug test result is received.

*** PCS/Relocation Expenses and/or Incentives, GHBO, Recruitment Incentives, and Student Loan Repayment Program Incentives have been authorized  - Additional approval required. *** 

QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED:

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Basic Requirements:  

• U.S. citizenship
• Physical standards - All applicants must meet the physical standards for the position.  A physical examination prior to employment may be required.  
• Registration - Current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The RN must maintain a current, full active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with the VA

Educational requirements can be met as follows for Nurse Ethicist IV: 

1. Must possess a Master's degree in Nursing or related field WITH a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing or related field (with approximately 4-5 years of experience) from a school of professional nursing approved by the appropriate state agency, and accredited by one of the following accrediting bodies at the time the program was completed: a) The National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC); or b) The Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE). You MUST provide a copy of your transcripts with your application package.  OR 

2. Must possess completed coursework equivalent to a nursing degree in a MSN Bridge Program that qualifies for professional nursing registration and constitutes the completion of an approved course of study of professional nursing (with approximately 4-5 years experience). You MUST provide a copy of your transcripts with your application package.  OR 

3. Must possess a Doctoral degree in Nursing or related field (with approximately 3-4 years experience). You MUST provide a copy of your transcripts with your application package.  OR 

4. Must be a graduate from a foreign school of professional nursing (with equivalent degrees as mentioned above), and possess a current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth (i.e., Puerto Rico) of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia.

The following requirements are preferred for this position:

• At a minimum, applicants should possess experience as an RN that is determined to be sustained and consistently at or above an acceptable level of quality. This may include experience as a Graduate Nurse Technician (GNT) provided that candidate was utilized as a professional nurse and passed the State licensing (board) examination on the first attempt, and experience as Nurse Technician Pending Graduation provided the candidate possessed an active, current registration to practice nursing in a State and was utilized as a professional nurse. Professional nursing experience should be documented on the Application for Employment – Nurse and Nurse Anesthetists (VA Form 10-2850a).
• Demonstrated evidence of progressive responsibility and effective leadership, including critical thinking, highly developed communication skills, consensus building, and sound judgment.
• Experience managing an ethics consultation service in a health care setting.
• Possess strong clinical knowledge, as well as knowledge of applied ethics and must have significant experience performing health care ethics consultation.
• Demonstrated experience instituting strategies to coordinate and direct organizational change at the regional or national level such as conducting program evaluation with the goal of determining strategic direction based on data, and developing strategic plans to manage ethics consultation activities.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and educate a wide variety of audiences using high quality written materials and oral communications.

References: VA Handbook 5005/27, Part II, Appendix G6, NURSE QUALIFICATION STANDARD, dated March 17, 2009. 

Salary determination will be based on a recommendation by the Professional Standards Board and will conform to the locality pay in effect at the host facility for the individual selected.

Registration: The Registered Nurse must maintain a current, full, active and unrestricted registration as a graduate professional nurse in a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia. The RN must maintain a current, full, active and unrestricted registration to continue employment with the VA. You must be registered by a State, Territory, or Commonwealth of the U.S. or in the District of Columbia.

Physical Requirements: Primarily a sedentary administrative work environment requiring walking between offices for meetings.