Quality & Safety Program Manager / Advanced Practice Nurse

Job Summary:

The University of Colorado College of Nursing is seeking a full-time (1.0 FTE), doctoral-prepared, Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) to coordinate quality assurance and improvement activities for the Office of Clinical and Community Affairs (CCA). This is a faculty administrative appointment within the Clinical Practice Faculty Series that will include 0.80 FTE (32 hours/week) time to serve as Quality and Safety Program Manager and 0.20 FTE (8 hours/week) clinical practice appointment within an interprofessional, team-based care model, contributing to the clinical, educational, and service missions of the College of Nursing.

Key Responsibilities:

* Coordinates peer review process for CCA clinical practice providers, organizes quarterly or annual review process, gathers and disseminates information on best practices, and identifies opportunities for improvement.

* Collects, analyzes and disseminates data on quality and key performance indicators (e.g. midwifery birth outcomes, eCQMs )

* Collaborates on case reviews, clinical event reporting, and mortality reports to identify potential and actual quality of care (QOC) incidents. Creates action plans and follow-through for all identified QOC incidents.

* Creates QI projects, identifies gaps and oversees focus PDSA cycles to ensure ongoing continuous quality improvement process

* Serves as a liaison between CCA and:

o College of Nursing teams (i.e. Office of Research & Scholarship )

o University entities (Office of Risk Management, Office of Regulatory Compliance)

o Community partner quality teams (i.e. UCHealth, CUMedicine)

* Builds dashboards establishes quality metrics and monitors regularly

* Leads patient safety and clinical risk management initiatives across clinical settings in collaboration with the clinical leadership teams.

* Supports a culture of safety, compliance and continuous learning through staff engagement, staff empowerment, and staff education initiatives that focus on quality and safety.

* Provides student support (BSN, DNP), coordinates student DNP project placements

* Supports policy and procedure development that focuses on quality of care and safety.

* Participates in college, campus, and community partner quality committees. (e.g. CCA Policy Committee, FQHC Quality Peer Learning)

* Develops QI and QA program for practice and service lines in collaboration with clinical practice leadership.

Clinical Care & Patient Management

* Performs outpatient primary care procedures within scope of practice

* Performs comprehensive patient assessments, including physical examinations, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, follow-up, and consultation.

* Obtains patient histories and develops individualized, evidence-based plans of care.

* Coordinates patient care activities across the interprofessional team and consulting health care teams.

* Provides health education, counseling, and preventive care to patients, families, and groups.

* Maintains procedural competency and adheres to evidence-based practice standards, documentation requirements, and informed consent processes.

* Completes clinical documentation accurately and in a timely manner within the Electronic Health Record (EHR).

* Adheres to safety, infection control, environmental, and regulatory standards.

* Participates in clinical peer review and routine chart audits, as required.

* Participate in after-hours triage call on a rotating basis as applicable.

* Works weekends, nights, and holidays based on needs of practice and service line expectations.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule of a minimum of 3 days per week on-site and as needed, depending on organizational need.

Why Join Us:

CU Nursing is an amazing place to be. We have the distinct advantage of being a part of a huge medical campus with three incredible hospitals - the VA, the nationally ranked University of Colorado Hospital, and the Children's Hospital Colorado where our nursing students and faculty learn every day. From our beginning 125 years ago as part of the School of Medicine at CU Boulder to our current home at the Anschutz Medical Campus, the college has been a recognized leader in nursing education (ranked #10 in online MS graduate programs by U.S. News & World Report 2023). Our faculty, students and staff have been instrumental in shaping the profession of nursing and teaching the next generation of nurses while treating patients in our own nurse-led clinics. Be a part of an innovative, dynamic, diverse, and exciting workplace -- helping make great things happen. Join us in our quest to boldly transform health together.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

* Medical: Multiple plan options

* Dental: Multiple plan options

* Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision

* Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay

* Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)

* Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)

* Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)

* Holiday Days: 11/year

* Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses

* ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:

Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

* An earned (research or professional) doctorate in nursing from an accredited institution of higher education

* Current RN, RXN, and APN licensures in good standing (any state)

o Must have CO licensures by date of hire. Could be working toward CO clinical licenses during application process and registered with DORA-Department of Regulatory Agencies.

o Please review DORA's Nursing Licensing Guide for detailed requirements: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XUWVoJSKm06kbhiH-WBNJ8OqolFRmXwD/view

* Five (5) years of Advance Practice experience

* Two (2) years of experience in a nursing or healthcare leadership role

* A record of demonstrated effectiveness in clinical practice, collegial collaboration, and commitment to a program of scholarship to qualify for the rank of Assistant Professor in an IRC: Clinical Practice faculty track

Conditions of employment:

* Must be willing and able to obtain Colorado RN, APN, RxN licenses by date of hire.

* Must be willing and able to obtain current DEA license within 90 days of hire.

* Must be willing and able to obtain valid NPI number by date of hire

* Must be willing and able to obtain valid Colorado Medicaid Provider number by date of hire

* Must be willing and able to complete CAQH and all credentialing requirements prior to by date of hire.

* Must be willing and able to obtain current BLS/CPR certification by date of hire.

* Must be willing and able to actively participation in health plan contracts.

* Must be willing and able to remain credentialed by the health plans and ensure credentialing materials stay current.

* Must be willing and able to work in a normal patient care environment with some exposure to biological hazards and infectious diseases.

* Must be willing and able to work standard clinic hours (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.) with rotating on-call coverage.

* Must be willing and able to works weekends, nights, and holidays based on needs of practice and service line expectations.

Preferred Qualifications:

* Two (2) years experience working with EPIC.

* Two (2) years of experience coordinating and implementing quality improvement and risk mitigation programs in a healthcare setting

* Experience using Data Quality module in REDCap, EPIC dashboards, or similar.

* Experience precepting graduate nursing students.

* Prior experience working in an academic or teaching environment.

* Experience working with population-based outcomes

Competencies:

* Demonstrates sound clinical judgment and the ability to independently assess, diagnose, and manage acute and chronic conditions within scope of practice.

* Ability to drive process improvements and regulatory compliance

* Proven ability to launch and manage complex projects and systems of care

* Expertise in quality improvement methods

* Knowledge of program planning concepts, principles, and practices with a focus on building and maintaining a system of integrated care that supports patient needs.

* Knowledge of the cultural, social, and economic background of the diverse populations served and the impact of cultural values and beliefs in their health status.

* Ability to use computer and clinic software ensuring completeness and accuracy.

* Medical literacy, as demonstrated by familiarity with common medical terms, first-line psychiatric medications, understanding of medical culture, and interdisciplinary treatment teams.

* Ability to collect and analyze data for reporting.

* Effectively prioritizes and responds to changes in patient condition with

* appropriate urgency and coordination.

* Proficient in Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems, ensuring accurate, timely, and complete documentation.

* Exhibits strong interpersonal and communication skills to work collaboratively

* with patients, families, interdisciplinary teams, and academic partners.

* Demonstrates the ability to function effectively within an integrated, team-based care model.

* Maintains professionalism, adaptability, and accountability in a dynamic clinical environment.

* Demonstrates effective clinical teaching skills and commitment to mentoring students.

* Demonstrates attention to detail and adherence to regulatory, credentialing, and compliance requirements.

* Demonstrates engagement in quality improvement, patient access initiatives, and clinic growth efforts.

* Willingness and ability to participate in rotating on-call triage schedules

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: con.hr@ucdenver.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Applications will be accepted until finalists are identified, but preference will be given to complete applications received by November 13^th, 2026. Those who do not apply by this date may or may not be considered.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

Assistant Professor: $103,750 to $ 115,278

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.