The Washington State Department of Health is seeking qualified applicants for the following Nursing Consultant Institutional (NCI) positions:

Position a:    The Hospital Surveyor/Inspector supports the Department’s mission to work with others to protect and improve the health of all people in Washington State by providing professional and technical clinical nursing expertise in conducting inspections and investigations for select clinical health care facilities.

Position b:    The Hospital Complaint Investigator is responsible for gathering evidence through interviews, document review, and observation of operations; documenting, organizing, and analyzing data for relevance; preparing final reports, including the recommendation of licensure or certification; and assists customers with inquiries regarding compliance or other issues, and assists with the procedural quality improvement process.

These are full-time Nursing Consultant Institutional (NCI) positions within the Office of Health Systems Oversight, located in Kent, Washington.

• Conduct on-site inspections and investigations in multiple geographic areas within Washington State to determine compliance with state and federal health and safety standards in acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, chemical dependency treatment hospitals, critical access hospitals, childbirth centers, outpatient physical therapy centers, transplant centers and comprehensive outpatient physical therapy centers, applying professional judgment, skills, technical knowledge, current standards of nursing practice, and state and federal regulations.
• Utilize computer programs in conjunction with state and federal rules/regulations, to create verbal and written reports.  Determine areas of health facility systems compliance/non-compliance based upon current standards of nursing practice, state, and federal regulations.  Write the statement of deficiency reports.  Conduct report writing and determinations in accordance with state and federal guidelines for content, structure (principles of documentation) and timeliness.
• Conduct on-site investigations or administrative reviews in multiple geographic areas within Washington State to determine health facility systems compliance with state and federal health and safety standards in acute care hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, chemical dependency treatment hospitals, critical access hospitals, childbirth centers, outpatient physical therapy centers, transplant centers and comprehensive outpatient physical therapy centers, applying professional judgment, skills, technical knowledge, current standards of nursing practice, and state and federal regulations.
• Recommend health facility licensure or certification acceptance or denial to supervisor.
• Provide technical consultation and education on clinical and nursing quality of care, issues to regulated facilities and agencies, consumers and co-workers based on professional judgment, skills, technical knowledge, current standards of nursing practice, state and federal regulations.
• Participate in division, office and Clinical Care Facility’s Performance Improvement activities.
• Incorporate agency directives, priorities, procedures, and values into daily work activities.  Support the vision, mission, and goals of the agency, HSQA and the Office of Health Systems Oversight.
• Conduct on-site inspections and investigations as needed in multiple geographic areas within Washington State to determine compliance with state and federal health and safety standards in ambulatory surgery centers, ambulatory surgical facilities, in-home services home care facilities, hospices, rural health clinics, residential treatment facilities, behavioral health agencies, state institutions, and group care facilities, applying professional judgment, skills, technical knowledge, current standards of nursing practice, and state and federal regulations.

What we’re looking for

Our ideal candidate is an innovative, and thoughtful administrative professional who views the world and everyone in it through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  Someone who has personal courage, tenacity, and humility to hold themselves and all others responsible for embodying our purpose and values.

The successful candidate is a team player, defined as having a driving passion for the work, bringing humility to their job and people interactions, and understanding how their words and actions impact others.

Required Qualifications

• Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of Washington OR eligible to obtain licensure within 6 months of hire.
• A Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing (BSN) or higher (MSN).
• Eight (8) or more years of professional clinical experience in the healthcare industry, to include but not limited to the following settings: hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, psychiatric hospitals, ambulatory surgical facilities, end-stage renal dialysis facilities, in-home services, home care facilities, hospices, rural health clinics, residential treatment facilities, state institutions, and group care facilities, or public health settings.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  Preference may be given to applicants with psychiatric nursing experience.
• Two (2) or more years of experience in a leadership role such as nurse manager, lead, supervisor or equivalent position.
• Demonstrated experience in the following computer skills:
  • Use database software, to design and create reports containing table relationships and lookup fields.
  • Use sub datasheets and subforms, and export data.
  • Create and apply advanced filters and queries.
  • Use word processing software to create, edit, and format letters, documents, and forms.
  • Use email software to create and send emails, and schedule meetings.

As well as demonstrated experience in the following competencies:  

• Communicates Effectively: Developing and delivering multi-mode communications that convey a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
• Ethical Conduct: Respects and maintains confidentiality.  Avoids inappropriate situations and actions which present the appearance of a conflict of interest.  Avoids misrepresentation.  Does not misrepresent self or use the position for personal gain.  Uses the public’s funds and resources appropriately.
• Ability to Work in a Team: Able to build rapport with others in completing assignments; demonstrates respect for the perspective of others; treats others with respect.
• Analysis: Uses data and information in a clear, rational and thorough process to assess and understand issues, evaluate options, form accurate conclusions and make decisions.
• Critical Thinking Skills: Raises vital questions and problems, formulating them clearly and precisely; gathers and assesses relevant information, using abstract ideas to interpret it effectively; comes to well-reasoned conclusions and solutions, testing them against relevant criteria and standards; thinks open-mindedly within alternative systems of thought, recognizing and assessing, as need be, their assumptions, implications, and practical consequences; and communicates effectively with others in figuring out solutions to complex problems.
• Interviewing: Use effective techniques for communicating and asking questions in ways that enhance clarity, information flow, and reliability of the information.
• Observation & Inspection: Uses visual inspection and pays close attention to details. Recognizes and responds to details that are easy to overlook or dismiss as insignificant.  Use informed judgment recognizes or anticipates when deviations from expected observations indicate a problem or issue that must be corrected. Identifies the most appropriate course of action in response to the observations, or to correct the situation.  Is able to distinguish which critical observations must be documented. Understands how to document critical observations in a way that others can understand and act upon their significance.
• Adaptability/Flexibility: Adapts to changing business needs conditions and work responsibilities.  Adapts approach, goals, and methods to achieve successful solutions and results in dynamic situations.
• Problem Solving Skills: Use a problem-solving process and critical thinking skills.
• Work Load Management: Effectively organizes multiple assignments, sometimes of a complex nature or involving competing priorities, to produce work products that are accurate, thorough, and on time.

Desired Qualifications

• Master’s Degree in Nursing, Management, or Business/Public Administration/Public Health or related field.
• Two (2) or more years of psychiatric hospital nursing experience.
• Previous demonstrated experience in the regulatory, survey/investigation or accreditation environment.

Application Process

Intrigued? We’d love to hear from you.  Click “Apply” to submit your detailed application profile along with the following:

1. A letter of interest, describing how you meet the specific required qualifications for this position.
2. A current resume.
3. Three (3) or more professional references, to be included in your profile. Please include at least one supervisor, peer, and (if you have supervised staff) a subordinate.

Important Note: Do not attach documents that contain private information (social security number, date of birth, transcripts, etc.) or documents that are password protected. These documents will not be reviewed and may cause errors within your application when downloaded. Veterans, please feel free to attach a copy of your redacted DD214.

The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) is an equal opportunity employer.  DOH strives to create a working environment that is inclusive and respectful.  It is our policy to prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, sex, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, political affiliation, genetics, or disability in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of our workforce.

This is a position covered by a bargaining unit for which the Service Employees International Union Healthcare 1199NW (SEIU 199NW) is the exclusive representative.

Conditions of Employment/Working Conditions
With or without an accommodation, I am willing and able to:

• Inspect health facilities across the state and conduct business in an office setting.
• Frequently travel statewide either by state or privately owned vehicle, or air transportation or provide own transportation which may including overnight stays for multiple nights, as required, while performing the duties of this position.
• Work standard business hours of 8 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. A flexible work schedule may be considered, subject to request and supervisory approval.
• Occasionally work in excess of 40 hours per week and/or to adjust normally scheduled hours, which may include evenings and weekends, to meet program needs and critical deadlines.
• Interact and work with customers (some of whom may be frustrated or distressed) in a positive, friendly, and supportive manner that meets the needs and standards of the office and the agency.

If you have questions, need alternative formats or other assistance please contact Cher Williams at (360) 236-4545, cher.williams@doh.wa.gov, or TDD Relay at 1-800-833-6384 or 711 (Washington Relay). Technical support is provided by NEOGOV, 855-524-5627 (can’t log in, password or email issues, error messages).