Registered Nurse – Clinical Nurse Leader (OCA)

Job Description

Department of Veterans Affairs

Veterans Health Administration

Summary

The Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Miami, FL is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse – Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) to join the Nursing Geriatrics and Extended Care (GEC) Service. This position serves Veterans in the Community Living Center (CLC) and Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) units, providing expert clinical leadership and education at the unit level. As a CNL, you will apply advanced nursing knowledge, evidence-based practice, and innovative care strategies to coordinate and improve patient outcomes in a dynamic healthcare environment.

Duties

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Serve as a unit-based clinical expert, leader, and educator for the CLC and SCI units.
• Analyze complex healthcare systems using principles of complexity science to improve care delivery.
• Design and implement evidence-based interventions to enhance patient outcomes at the unit (microsystem) level.
• Act as a patient advocate, promoting social justice, health equity, and equitable access to preventive care services.
• Facilitate challenging discussions within care teams and with patients and families to ensure high-quality care.
• Monitor care outcomes using diverse data sources and benchmark results to support continuous improvement.
• Participate in interdisciplinary rounds, focusing on high-risk patients and care coordination.
• Develop and implement individualized care plans for complex or high-risk patients in collaboration with the healthcare team.
• Identify and address the educational needs of nursing staff; mentor and support professional development.
• Respond to urgent patient care situations and provide guidance to nursing staff as needed.
• Support performance improvement initiatives and quality measures through application of improvement science.

Work Schedule: Monday–Friday, 8:30 am – 5:00 pm; flexibility may be required to cover the 24/7 operational needs of the facility.
Telework/Virtual: Not available
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized
Compensation & Benefits: Competitive salary with regular increases, performance awards, generous paid leave, comprehensive federal benefits, retirement plans, and federal health, vision, dental, and life insurance programs.
Location: Miami VA Medical Center, 1201 Northwest 16th Street, Miami, FL 33125; occasional travel to affiliated outpatient centers may be required.

Education & Preferred Experience

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a master’s degree in a related field with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or a bachelor’s degree in a related field.
• Current, full, and active Board Certification as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) from a VA-approved certifying body in the appropriate specialty area.
• Demonstrated ability to safely and effectively manage complex clinical situations within the scope of practice.
• Proven leadership skills, with experience guiding and mentoring nursing staff, incorporating evidence-based research and performance improvement data into practice, and assisting in the development or revision of clinical policies and procedures.
• Ability to evaluate the outcomes of practice changes and communicate findings to relevant stakeholders.
• Demonstrated contributions to the advancement of nursing knowledge through teaching, publishing, or presenting.
• Effectively serves in leadership roles such as charge nurse or team leader; mentors colleagues and students, and acts as a preceptor as needed.

Additional Information

• This job announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies within the organization.
• This position is part of the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status.
• The VA encourages applications from individuals with disabilities.
• Positions in the VA healthcare system are covered under Title 38 and are not part of the Schedule A excepted appointment authority.
• If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate submission method, please contact the Agency Representative listed in this announcement.
• In accordance with the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the VA does not request an applicant’s criminal history until after a tentative offer has been extended. For more details, visit the VA Fair Chance Act page.

How You Will Be Evaluated

Your application will be reviewed to assess how well your qualifications align with the position requirements. Please ensure your application, resume, and supporting documents clearly demonstrate your relevant experience — assumptions about your qualifications will not be made.

Key considerations include:

• The scope and quality of your nursing practice, evaluated across five core dimensions: Practice, Veteran/Patient-Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence-Based Practice/Research.
• Both paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer roles with organizations such as AmeriCorps or the Peace Corps, will be credited if relevant.
• Pre-employment reference checks will be conducted to verify information provided in your application and to support the selection process.

Required Application Documents

To receive full consideration, please submit a complete application package, which includes:

• Resume
• CNL Certification
• Nursing License
• Transcripts/Training Certifications
• Current SF-50 (for current or former federal employees; must show current title, series, grade, and salary — award SF-50s are not acceptable)

Other documents may include (if applicable):

• Cover Letter
• DD-214 / Statement of Service
• VA Disability Letter or Schedule A Disability Letter
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certifications
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15 (for claiming 10-point veteran preference)

Veterans’ Preference: Eligible veterans will receive preference if qualifications are substantially equal. Be sure to submit all required documentation, such as your DD-214, SF-15, and other proof as necessary. For detailed information, visit Feds Hire Vets.

Education Note: Only degrees from schools accredited by institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education will be credited toward qualification requirements.

How to Apply:
All applicants are strongly encouraged to apply online through USAJOBS. Submit the complete application package by 11:59 PM (ET) on 07/31/2025 to receive consideration. Preview the full questionnaire here.

Start your application by clicking Apply Online, then follow the prompts to upload your resume and required documents and complete the questionnaire.

Tip: Double-check that your responses and documents are submitted before the closing date. During the application process, you may choose to make your resume visible to hiring managers with similar vacancies — opting in does not affect your status for this position.