Demo

Director of Nursing (DON) - RN

Cherokee Specialty Care
Cherokee, IA Full Time
POSTED ON 4/15/2026
AVAILABLE BEFORE 6/14/2026
Cherokee Specialty Care, a 62-bed long-term care skilled nursing community located in Cherokee, IA, is now hiring!

Director of Nursing (RN)

Make a Difference Every Day – Join Care Initiatives as a Director of Nursing!

Join our compassionate care team across more than 40 skilled nursing communities throughout Iowa. If you're a dedicated and empathetic caregiver looking to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others during their healthcare journey, this is your opportunity to shine.

What You’ll Do & Key Responsibilities:
  • Lead and oversee all nursing operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and high clinical standards of the nursing department.
  • Champion a person-centered, home-like care model that honors resident choice, dignity, and independence.
  • Coach, mentor, and inspire nursing leaders and staff to deliver exceptional, relationship-based care.
  • Ensure residents and families receive the right level of care through strong care coordination and smooth service transitions.
  • Drive staffing effectiveness, team member safety, budget accountability, and operational efficiency.
  • Prepare, educate, and guide the team to achieve deficiency-free surveys while maintaining a non-institutional approach to care.
  • Partner with interdisciplinary teams on pre-admission reviews, discharge planning, and occupancy support.
  • Ensure nursing staff conduct regular rounds to monitor care delivery concerns and progress; acknowledge the progress while proposing and helping implement solutions to address concerns.
  • Enforce policies and guide the team, fostering both personal and team growth.
  • Manage administrative functions to enhance department efficiency and pave the way for future growth.
  • Participate in an on-call rotation with other members of the leadership team.
Qualifications:
  • Prior leadership experience within long-term care as an ADON/DON.
  • Valid RN license in good standing. License must be valid within the state of Iowa, or ability to activate.
  • Current, valid CPR Certification.
  • Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations and laws.
  • A desire to learn and grow as part of a quality focused clinical team.
  • A strong commitment to helping others and consistently treating them with empathy, respect, patience, and discretion.
Why Join Care Initiatives?

  • Competitive Compensation: Earn a highly competitive wage.
  • Unlimited Paid Time Off: Enjoy healthy work life balance.
  • Comprehensive Benefits: Eligible employees enjoy robust benefit options including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and more.
  • Referral Bonus Program: Earn cash rewards for referring your friends.
  • Tuition Reimbursement: Develop your skills with company paid training and education to take your career to the next level.
  • Digital Wallet Access: Get paid as you earn—no more waiting for payday!
Start Your Journey with Us

Apply today and become part of a team where your compassion, dedication, and care truly matter. At Care Initiatives, we’re committed to helping you grow your career while improving the lives of those we serve.

Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Care Initiatives will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming.

Care Initiatives is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Care Initiatives complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Salary.com Estimation for Director of Nursing (DON) - RN in Cherokee, IA
$175,259 to $239,330
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