Advertising Summary: Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine is a premier academic medical center located in the heart of Richmond. Accounting for almost half of VCU’s sponsored research, the School of Medicine is internationally recognized for patient care and education.

Unit: School Of Medicine MBU

Department: Pediatrics

Duties & Responsibilities:

Position Summary:

The VNPC Quality Improvement Nurse will be responsible for working with all 49 birth hospitals within Virginia to implement patient safety bundles and other VNPC quality improvement projects.  This person will serve as the quality improvement clinical expert on the VNPC team, building partnerships and support from all hospitals and community partners. They will be responsible for assisting with the implementation of all quality improvement activities for all the grants held by the VNPC. This person will be responsible for assisting hospitals and partners with successfully accomplishing activities and deliverables as stated in all the grant work plans, ensuring collaborations with all vested supporters and partners; working closely with all 49 birth hospitals clinical teams and leadership across the Commonwealth; and strengthening relationships for projects while working alongside communities focused on improving perinatal and infant outcomes. This person will also be responsible for assisting with the advisory committees and other meetings where a clinical expert is needed. This person will require the ability for highly proficient and independent work, while maintaining a working knowledge of maternal and infant health, public health and/or nursing core principles, and quality improvement principles. Project management skills, and clear written and oral communication skills are necessary.

Core Responsibilities:

As a member of the Virginia Neonatal Perinatal Collaborative (VNPC) and Department of Pediatrics team, the VNPC QI Registered Nurse will be supervised by the VNPC Senior Manager. This person will serve the VNPC as the subject matter expert for all clinical aspects of the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health (AIM) Patient Safety Bundles implementation, VNPC projects and ensure the clinical activities and deliverables are met for all grants, plus any additional grants that are awarded to the VNPC. This person will be responsible for assisting hospitals and partners with successfully accomplishing activities and deliverables as stated in all the grant work plans, ensuring collaborations with all vested supporters and partners; working closely with all 49 birth hospitals clinical teams and leadership across the Commonwealth; and strengthening relationships for projects while working alongside communities focused on improving perinatal and infant health outcomes. This person will also be responsible for assisting with the advisory committees and other meetings where a clinical expert is needed. This position provides an opportunity to work in a fast­-paced environment with potential for career growth in the field of maternal and infant public health and for those presenting a willingness to learn and ability to work collaboratively with faculty and staff.

Financial Administration

Work under direction of supervisor to provide fiscal support to the program.  Fiscal duties include but are not limited to:

• Advise and alert supervisor of any compliance concerns.

• Monitor, evaluate, and ensure accurate files are maintained for all expenditures charged to each managed account; reconcile transactional records against expense reports on a monthly basis in conjunction with supervisor; monitor personnel and other expenditures and communicates any questions, concerns to supervisor.
• Perform routine fiscal assignments as needed. 

Program Activities

• Maintains customer service that is compatible with core and traditional public health values. Assures program is consistent with current resources and are provided within State, Federal and District policies and guidelines. 
• Maintains close and effective working relationship with health care systems, state agencies, stakeholders, and partners.
• Assist with agency, grant and general assembly reporting and document and submit when due and consistently meets submission deadlines.

• Utilizes public health core values when implementing program activities at the local, system or state level.
• Assist birth and community hospitals with implementation of quality improvement projects established by the VNPC.
• Knowledge and expertise as the subject matter expert for clinical implementation of the QI projects

Planning and Evaluation

• Identify and understand community needs within the state specific to the maternal and infant Health population, assists with developing projects, and implementing activities accordingly
• Develops and recommends strategies for implementation of plans that meet hospital and community needs, including resources required. 
• Research available grants and funding opportunities, assist with writing. 
• Uses state and federal standards to evaluate program quality assurance and reports deficiencies. 
• Participates in evaluation using results for future planning. Serves as a clinical subject matter expert for the VNPC.
• Assist with reporting out monthly data during QI projects

Community and Interagency Relationships

• Works actively with other state agencies, stakeholders and community leaders to promote public health and develop effective working relationships.
• Serves on committees and with groups to represent the VNPC.  
• Provides Board of Directors and advisory committees with information on perception of needs and public health services by these groups, agencies or organizations.
• Works with health systems and local communities to plan special community health education events related to the VNPC. 
• Serves on committees, boards and coalitions that parallel the ideologies, goals and objectives of the public health sector; promotes collaboration with same.
• Actively and regularly engages with stakeholders around the state.

Customer Service

• Treats others in the workplace with respect.  Guided by VNPC program goals, identifies and takes steps to meet the needs of the members of the VNPC. 
• Working with supervisor and co-workers, improves work processes by making suggestions and jointly developing changes to decrease cost and/or improve services. 
• Shares fairly in assigned work tasks and helps in other areas when needed. 
• Limits problems between employees by talking with involved co-worker(s) about an issue as soon as it comes up and, when needed, getting supervisor involved.
• Works with team members in a collaborative manner to ensure coordination of initiatives.

Training and Leadership

• Sets professional example and proactively promotes participation, seeks additional learning and development skill opportunities. 
• Participates in in-service, workshops and classes to maintain/upgrade knowledge, skills and abilities as pertains to maternal and infant health, nursing, public health, and relevant theory and practice.
• Sets standards and priorities for maternal and infant health. Proactively researches and requests training to update skills as available and appropriate.

Other Duties as Assigned

• The goal of the VNPC is for Virginia to be the best and safest state to deliver and have a baby.
• To that end, this position contributes to supporting the health of all Virginians through the efficient and effective work of the VNPC.
• May be required to perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and several years relevant professional experience or equivalent combination of education, experience, and training related to nursing and quality improvement.
• Knowledge of maternal and infant health, quality improvement and public health core principles.
• Clear written and oral communication skills are necessary.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Superior communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to establish and maintain excellent working relationships with a wide variety of constituents.
• Proficiency in the use of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Adobe required.
• Demonstrated experience working in community engagement, non-profit management, and/or volunteer coordination. 
• Demonstrated experience working in and fostering an environment of respect, professionalism and civility with a population of faculty, staff, and students from various backgrounds and experiences, or a commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master of Nursing with a focus in either maternal and infant health or quality improvement.
• Experience of 3-5 years with quality improvement or implementation science.
• Knowledge and/or experience working with a Perinatal Quality Collaborative.
• Ability to independently make strategic decisions, generate innovative ideas and solutions, and multitask due to a wide variety of tasks and constantly changing contexts.
• Experience working with partners, vested supporters, hospitals and communities across the Commonwealth.
• Experience establishing priorities and grant deliverables.

Salary Range: Up to $87,000 (Commensurate with Experience)

Benefits: All full-time university staff are eligible for VCU’s robust benefits package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs, employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities for career development and advancement, and more.

FLSA Exemption Status: Non-Exempt

Hours per Week: 40

Restricted Position: Yes

ORP Eligible: Yes

Flexible Work Arrangement: Hybrid

University Job Title: Registered Nurse (1-2) (21251Y, 21252Y)

Contact Name: Jewel Jefferson

Contact Email: jewel.jefferson@vcuhealth.org