As the Associate Chief Nurse of Mental Health, you will provide program management to ensure coordination of care, including oversight of nursing clinical practice, administrative, and leadership accountability for your assigned areas; execute leadership for integrated programs that cross service and/or discipline lines and influence the organizational mission and health care.
** This position is a detail NTE 120 days and may be converted to permanent without further competition.**
Major duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Functions as an advisor, administrator, educator, consultant, and mentor who possesses a wide range of experience and leadership ability. Provides senior leadership and oversight for daily clinical and administrative operations within nursing as directed by the Associate Director for Patient Care Services (ADPCS).
Responsible for all aspects of care that fall under the Mental Health service line, providing administrative oversight and direction in the programs within the service. Possesses solid knowledge of Nursing and Mental Health Nursing regulations, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) guidelines, medical review criteria, clinical practice and documentation requirements, current standards of care, and compliance guidelines.
Supports the integration and collaboration of nursing with other professional disciplines and functional areas in the mutual achievement of patient-centered and organizational goals. Champions a High Reliability Organization (HRO) with a culture of safety founded on a systems approach to developing evidence-based health care solutions based on prevention, not punishment, with collective mindfulness.
Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, including other program and service leaders at the facility and network. Relates effectively with customers, families, and the community as well as program and service leaders at the local and network levels. Assist the ADPCS with healthcare operations and the functions and activities expected of them.
Contributes ideas and recommendations for the establishment of standards of care, policies, and objectives for the enhancement of nursing. Manages and approves leave schedules and respective Time & Leave (T&L) sections to ensure there is adequate coverage for planned leaves and a contingency plan for unexpected absences as well as accurate/timely leave approvals and labor mapping.
Works with service line leadership and human resources staff to ensure adequate and appropriate staffing for all assigned areas. The ACN is responsible for recruitment, hiring, evaluation, disciplinary, and termination actions for Mental Health staff. Reviews, interprets, and effectively uses performance reports, benchmark data, budget cost/expenditure documents, staffing, and other reports in decision-making.
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 7:30 a.m.
to 4:00 p.m., but work schedule may be adjusted to meet the needs of the service. Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized
NIKO.SIMMONS@VA.GOV · (562) 842-9823
This position is with Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs.
The posted pay range is $157554 – $209540/yr.
Applications close on 2026-09-11.
This position is open under the 'Fed Internal Search' hiring path.
Source: USAJOBS.gov — U.S. Federal Government
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