Director of Nursing - Hospital

Cook Hospital & Care Center is seeking an experienced and collaborative Director of Nursing – Hospital to provide leadership and oversight for hospital nursing services and the Emergency Department. This position plays a key role in ensuring high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, staff development, and effective clinical operations.

The Director of Nursing – Hospital works closely with hospital administration, medical staff, department leaders, and nursing staff to promote safe, efficient, patient-centered care. This position also provides leadership oversight for Case Management and Utilization Review.

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing – Hospital is responsible for planning, directing, coordinating, and evaluating hospital nursing services to ensure that care is provided in accordance with professional standards, organizational policies, and applicable regulatory requirements.

This position provides leadership for the Hospital Nursing Department and Emergency Department, including clinical operations, staffing, employee relations, quality improvement, regulatory readiness, budgeting, and professional development. The Director works collaboratively with Administration and Medical Staff to support the hospital’s overall goals and commitment to excellent patient care.

Key Responsibilities

Nursing Operations & Regulatory Compliance

• Provide leadership and oversight for Hospital Nursing and Emergency Department operations.
• Ensure nursing services meet applicable federal, state, licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Monitor nursing documentation, processes, and outcomes to support regulatory compliance and survey readiness.
• Develop, implement, evaluate, and update nursing policies and procedures.
• Promote safe, effective, evidence-based, and patient-centered nursing practices.
• Coordinate nursing services with other departments to promote continuity of care and effective patient flow.
• Participate in hospital planning, policy development, and operational decision-making.
• Support hospital emergency preparedness and response activities.
  
  

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

• Lead and participate in quality improvement initiatives related to nursing services and patient care.
• Monitor nursing quality indicators, patient outcomes, staffing indicators, and other measures of departmental performance.
• Identify opportunities for improvement and implement appropriate corrective actions.
• Promote a culture of patient safety, accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Participate in committees and organizational initiatives related to quality, patient safety, infection prevention, compliance, risk management, emergency preparedness, pharmacy, medical staff, and other areas as appropriate.
• Assist with coordination of Swing Bed admissions and other patient care activities as needed.
• Maintain a clean, safe, and supportive environment for patients, visitors, medical staff, and employees.
  
  

Leadership & Staff Management

• Provide day-to-day leadership and supervision of the Hospital Nursing Department and Emergency Department.
• Recruit, select, orient, develop, and retain qualified nursing staff.
• Develop and maintain appropriate staffing levels while balancing patient care needs and departmental resources.
• Develop and oversee nursing schedules, including appropriate coverage for patient care needs and compliance with applicable meal and rest break requirements.
• Conduct employee performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and professional development.
• Address employee performance and conduct concerns in collaboration with Human Resources.
• Promote positive employee relations and a respectful, collaborative work environment.
• Ensure employees receive appropriate orientation, education, training, and competency development.
• Monitor employee turnover, overtime, absenteeism, and other workforce indicators.
• Interpret and consistently apply organizational policies and applicable labor agreements.
  
  

Case Management & Utilization Review

• Provide leadership and oversight for Case Management and Utilization Review functions.
• Collaborate with clinical staff, providers, payers, patients, and other stakeholders to support appropriate utilization of healthcare services.
• Promote effective care coordination, discharge planning, and transitions of care.
• Monitor processes and outcomes related to utilization management and patient care coordination.
  
  

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage departmental budgets in collaboration with Administration and the Chief Financial Officer.
• Monitor departmental expenses, staffing costs, supplies, equipment, and other resources.
• Promote cost-effective operations while maintaining quality and safety.
• Evaluate equipment, technology, supply, and staffing needs and make recommendations as appropriate.
  
  

Communication & Collaboration

• Serve as a visible and approachable leader for hospital nursing staff.
• Maintain effective communication with employees, physicians, Administration, patients, and other departments.
• Conduct regular nursing staff meetings and communicate organizational information, expectations, and priorities.
• Participate in leadership, medical staff, and interdisciplinary meetings as appropriate.
• Promote teamwork and collaboration across departments.
• Effectively communicate concerns, opportunities, and departmental needs to the Chief Executive Officer and other members of leadership.
• Lead problem-solving and process improvement efforts in both routine and emergency situations.
  
  

Qualifications

Required:

• Current Registered Nurse license in the State of Minnesota.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing program.
• Minimum of five years of nursing experience.
• Prior leadership, supervisory, or management experience.
• Experience in hospital nursing, acute care, emergency services, critical care, rehabilitation, or another comparable clinical setting.
• Basic computer proficiency.
  
  

Preferred:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Experience in nursing administration or hospital leadership.
• Experience with regulatory compliance, quality improvement, and hospital survey readiness.
• Experience with Case Management or Utilization Review.
  
  

What We Are Looking For

The ideal candidate is an experienced nursing leader who is approachable, organized, clinically knowledgeable, and committed to developing staff and improving patient care. The Director of Nursing should be comfortable balancing day-to-day operational needs with long-term planning and quality improvement.

Strong communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and team-building skills are essential. The successful candidate will work collaboratively with physicians, hospital leadership, employees, patients, and community partners to support the mission of Cook Hospital & Care Center.

Position Details

Position: Director of Nursing – Hospital

Department: Hospital Nursing / Emergency Department

Additional Oversight: Case Management & Utilization Review

Schedule: Full Time

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer

Cook Hospital & Care Center offers a collaborative work environment, competitive compensation, and a comprehensive benefits package.

Join our team and make a difference in the care of our patients and the community we serve.