Registered Nurse - Assistant Chief Sterile Processing Service

The Assistant Chief of Sterile Processing Service (SPS) is responsible and accountable for all elements of nursing process when providing supervision in the SPS program. Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates outcomes in the SPS program. The SPS Assistant Chief ensures that all applicable VHA policies and guidelines are followed and that the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines are followed per VHA Directive 1116.

Duties include but are not limited to the following: Assesses, plans, implements, and evaluates outcomes in the SPS program. Assumes responsibility for the coordination of sterile processing service focused on high level disinfection, sterilization, sterile storage, infection control and prevention, staff education, self-management, and customer satisfaction throughout the continuum of care. Ensures that all applicable VHA policies and guidelines are followed and that the American Association of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) guidelines are followed per VHA Directive 1116. Provides 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. Responsible for assisting the Chief of SPS with assessing, monitoring, developing, and implementing corrective action plans for instrument processing, decontamination, sterilization, storage, biological monitoring, and high-level disinfection monitoring through an SPS Quality Management System. Assists with oversight and availability for consultation of non-critical RMD. Assesses the environment, analyzes trends, transmits data, communicates ideas, develops, and implements policies, initiates programs and systems, and collaborates in the management of resources. Knowledge in areas of patient care practices, microbiology, asepsis, disinfection/sterilization process, adult education, infectious diseases, communication, program administration and epidemiology. Collaborates with the Chief of SPS about evidence-based practice (EBP) infection control relating to sterile processing standards. 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 to Friday (8-hour shift). Telework: Not available. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized. Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized.

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 evaluation. 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.