Director of Nursing

The Director of Nursing (DON) – Medical & Nursing Services provides strategic and operational leadership for all nursing and medical operations at the Katie Blessing Center for Children and Adolescents (KBC). This role is accountable for the delivery of safe, high-quality nursing care, medical operations, regulatory compliance, and quality improvement initiatives.

The DON works in close partnership with the Medical Director and collaborates closely with the Director of Clinical/Social Services to ensure alignment between nursing/medical interventions and non-nursing clinical programming. Together, these leaders share responsibility for program development, regulatory readiness, and continuous quality improvement, while maintaining clearly defined areas of accountability.

• Provide executive leadership and oversight for all nursing operations ensuring safe, effective, and evidence-based patient care.
• Collaborate with the Medical Director on medical policies, protocols, and standards of care.
• Develop, implement, and manage the daily RN and Behavioral Health Technician staffing matrix, ensuring appropriate coverage, acuity-based staffing, and regulatory compliance.
• Oversee nursing workflows, documentation standards, medication management processes, and care coordination activities.

• Partner with the Director of Clinical/Social Services to support the development and oversight of non-nursing clinical programming, ensuring seamless integration with nursing and medical interventions.
• Participate in shared planning and evaluation of interdisciplinary treatment models, while maintaining primary accountability for nursing and medical components of care.
• Ensure nursing services effectively support therapeutic programming and individualized treatment plans.

• Recruit, hire, onboard, supervise, and evaluate nursing staff, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional excellence.
• Identify professional development needs and implement targeted education and training for nursing and technical staff.
• Serve as a visible clinical leader and role model, promoting empathy, professionalism, and patient-centered care.

• Lead and actively participate in organizational quality improvement initiatives related to nursing outcomes, patient safety, and service delivery.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable regulatory and accreditation standards, including Joint Commission, CMS/HCFA, OSHA, and state and federal requirements.
• Collaborate with executive leadership and clinical partners on survey readiness, audits, and corrective action planning.

• Design, implement, and monitor patient and staff safety initiatives within nursing and medical operations.
• Provide nursing leadership during critical incidents, emergencies, and crisis situations.

• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field (required).
• Minimum of 3–5 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, preferably within a 24/7 residential, inpatient, or behavioral health setting.

• Demonstrated expertise in nursing and medical operations, staffing models, and regulatory compliance.
• Experience partnering with medical and clinical leadership in interdisciplinary care environments.
• Strong leadership, communication, and quality improvement skills.

• Active, unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of North Carolina.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS) certification.

• Job Type: Full-time
• Schedule: Monday to Friday (On-site), some weekend rounding expected
• Location: Charlotte, NC (reliable commute or relocation required prior to employment)

401(k) with employer contribution, health, dental, and vision insurance, paid time off and holidays, employee assistance program, and employee discounts.

At the Katie Blessing Center, you will play a critical leadership role in building a high-performing nursing organization within a collaborative, mission-driven behavioral health facility. If you are an experienced nursing leader—ideally prepared at the master’s level—who values partnership, accountability, and excellence in care, we invite you to apply and lead with purpose.