Director of Nursing

General Description

The Nursing Director is accountable for the overall quality of nursing care within the assigned hospital or facility. As the senior patient care executive, this role provides leadership, direction, and management of all nursing and designated patient care services. The director ensures alignment with all applicable state nursing practice standards and the organization’s mission, vision, and values.

This role requires extensive leadership, clinical oversight, and strategic planning to ensure high-quality patient care and operational excellence across all nursing units.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical & Operational Leadership

• Ensure the delivery of healthcare services in accordance with all applicable regulatory and contractual requirements.
• Provide healthcare services within established competencies supported by formal education, training, and professional credentials.
• Maintain the scope, quality, and quantity of health services consistent with organizational policies.
• Establish and oversee nursing standards across assigned facilities.
• Maintain strong collaboration with medical directors and medical staff leadership to promote seamless patient care.
• Determine workforce and resource requirements, adjusting as needed to meet operational demands without compromising patient care quality.

Team Management & Supervision

• Lead and supervise subordinate nursing supervisors and professional staff.
• Conduct meetings to communicate work procedures, expectations, and updates.
• Ensure compliance with all standards and guidelines issued by accrediting organizations, national nursing associations, and regulatory bodies.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, productivity, triage, and patient flow to align with benchmark performance standards.

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Develop and implement systems to monitor nursing operations, identify trends, and detect deviations from expected performance.
• Maintain complete, accurate, and compliant healthcare records in accordance with federal, state, and organizational requirements.
• Ensure patient confidentiality and compliant handling of medical records in all formats.

Policy & Program Development

• Participate in system-wide nursing coordination aligned with organizational goals.
• Contribute to the development of nursing procedures and policies that support operational excellence.
• Engage in strategic planning and goal-setting at the departmental and organizational level.

Additional Responsibilities

• Execute supervisory duties including hiring, training, performance evaluation, and conflict resolution.
• Maintain compliance with HR policies and all applicable regulations.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Level of Responsibility

• Provides leadership and direction to multiple nursing departments.
• Manages up to five (5) subordinate supervisors overseeing more than 100 employees, along with up to eight (8) non-supervisory staff.
• Leads strategic planning, organizational initiatives, and operational improvements.
• Ensures department-wide compliance, accountability, and productivity.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree required (no substitutions).
• Master’s degree preferred.

Experience

• Minimum ten (10) years of experience in a related field.

Licensing

• Valid RN license issued by the appropriate state Board of Nursing or an approved multistate compact license.
• Valid driver’s license meeting organizational requirements.

Certifications

• BLS required within 90 days of hire; must be maintained.
• ACLS required within 180 days of hire; must be maintained.

Competencies

• Strong leadership and strategic decision-making
• Ability to guide and influence multidisciplinary teams
• Planning and organizational skills
• Customer and patient-focused mindset
• Attention to detail and compliance orientation

Physical Requirements

• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, handling, climbing, and bending.
• Ability to lift 10 lbs. regularly, 25 lbs. frequently, and up to 50 lbs. occasionally.
• May require respiratory fit testing and additional physical clearances.

Other Requirements

• Must not be under sanction by OIG, GSA, LEIE, or other exclusionary lists.
• Must meet all pre-employment and ongoing background screening requirements.