Registered Nurse- Falls Prevention Program Coordinator

Summary

The Nurse Falls Prevention Program Coordinator, focuses on individual growth and development of a Falls Prevention and Management Program in practice with increased levels of self-direction and responsiveness. The nurse brings basic Falls Prevention principles and theory with application of critical thinking skills and implementation ability. Responsible for producing and disseminating an evidenced-based, cost-effective Fall Prevention Program based upon the Veteran population.

Duties

Recruitment and relocation incentives are authorized for highly qualified applicants. The Falls Prevention Coordinator is a Registered Nurse responsible for the development, implementation, evaluation, and ongoing enhancement of a comprehensive, system-wide Falls Prevention and Management Program at Tennessee Valley Healthcare System. This role serves as a subject matter expert in fall prevention practices and is dedicated to improving patient safety, clinical outcomes, and staff education related to falls and mobility safety across the care continuum. The incumbent serves as the subject matter expert and facility lead for all fall prevention and post-fall management processes. The coordinator collaborates with nursing leadership, interdisciplinary teams, Quality Management, Patient Safety, and unit-based champions to analyze trends, identify system gaps, and implement sustainable interventions that reduce fall-related injuries among Veterans. The Falls Prevention Program is based on national standards, evidenced-based practice and outcomes research in accordance with the scope of practice. Primary responsibilities for this position: Coordinates and leads a comprehensive falls prevention program across inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and specialty areas. Analyzes fall data trends and completes root cause analyses (RCAs) for significant events. Chairs or co-chairs the Falls Prevention Interdisciplinary Committee. Develops evidence-based protocols, risk assessments, and interventions to mitigate fall risk. Educates and consults with staff regarding fall prevention strategies, mobility safety, and safe patient handling practices. Developing patient/caregiver education programs for fall and injury prevention. Collaborates with nursing leadership, patient safety, physical therapy, environmental services, and other departments to ensure a safe environment of care. Participates in performance improvement initiatives, quality reviews, and accreditation readiness efforts. Supports post-fall huddles and debriefings and ensures timely and accurate reporting in accordance with VHA policy and regulatory bodies. Establishing and maintaining a facility Fall Prevention policy and fall clinical practice guidelines based on evidence. Maintains flexibility with a high degree of interpersonal skills, effective communication, leadership, motivation, self-direction and ongoing evaluation of activities. Preferred Experience: Minimum of 3 years of clinical nursing experience in an acute care hospital setting Previous experience in patient safety, quality improvement, or risk management roles Demonstrated experience coordinating or leading hospital fall prevention programs or related safety initiatives Strong knowledge of fall risk assessment tools (e.g., Morse Fall Scale, Hendrich II) and evidence-based fall prevention strategies Experience conducting root cause analyses and contributing to performance improvement plans Familiarity with regulatory standards related to patient safety, such as those from The Joint Commission and CMS Proven ability to educate and engage interdisciplinary teams on fall prevention practices and policy adherence Experience collecting, analyzing, and reporting data to monitor trends and drive quality outcomes Excellent communication, facilitation, and leadership skills to collaborate across nursing, therapy, and ancillary departments Master's degree in Nursing National specialty certification (e.g., CPPS Certified Professional in Patient Safety, or related) preferred VA offers a comprehensive total rewards package: VA Nurse Total Rewards Pay Schedule: NY67 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: Full-time; Based on the needs Telework: Available; Ad-hoc telework may be authorized at Supervisory discretion Virtual: This is not a virtual position Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

Requirements

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/examination. 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.

Qualifications and evaluation

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment. NOTE: Candidate's education, scope, and length of nursing practice (experience) will be considered 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. Experience as an RN will be evaluated to determine if the experience is of an acceptable level of quality with regard to the following five dimensions of nursing: Practice, Veteran/Patient Driven Care, Leadership, Professional Development, and Evidence/Based Practice/Research. Each dimension of practice has criteria that demonstrate essential core competencies for VHA Nursing Personnel. Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience. The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position. It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment. Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

How to apply

All applicants are encouraged to apply online. To apply for this position, you must complete the full questionnaire and submit the documentation specified in the Required Documents section below. The complete application package must be submitted by 11:59 PM (ET) on 08/17/2026 to receive consideration. To preview the questionnaire, click https://apply.usastaffing.gov/ViewQuestionnaire/13030046. To begin, click Apply Online to create a USAJOBS account or log in to your existing account. Follow the prompts to select your USA JOBS resume and/or other supporting documents and complete the occupational questionnaire. Click Submit My Answers to submit your application package. NOTE: It is your responsibility to ensure your responses and appropriate documentation are submitted prior to the closing date. During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions.

Required documents

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes: Resume Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field. Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field. The following documents are accepted and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Cover Letter DD-214/ Statement of Service Disability Letter (VA) License CV/Resume PCS Orders Performance Appraisal Professional Certification Resume Separation Notice (RIF) SF-15 SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action Transcript Veterans' Preference Note: Preference eligible candidates and other Veterans will be given preference when qualification of candidates are approximately equal for Title 38 positions in VHA. When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Additional information

This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply. The health-related positions in VA are covered by Title 38, and are not covered by the Schedule A excepted appointment authority. If you are unable to apply online or need an alternate method to submit documents, please reach out to the Agency Contact listed in this Job Opportunity Announcement. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.