Director Nursing - Women's & Children's Service Line

Meritus Health is seeking a dynamic Director of Nursing – Women’s & Children’s Service Line to lead one of the most impactful areas of care in our organization. This leader will guide clinical excellence across Labor, Delivery, Recovery & Postpartum (LDRP), Special Care Nursery, and Pediatric/Medical-Surgical services, supporting families and children through some of life’s most important moments.

Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer, the Director will oversee a high-performing team and play a critical role in advancing patient-centered care, strengthening clinical operations, and supporting strategic growth for our Women’s and Children’s programs.

This is an exciting leadership opportunity for a nurse executive passionate about advancing maternal and pediatric care, developing teams, and driving continuous improvement in a collaborative healthcare environment.

About the Women’s & Children’s Service Line

Our Women’s & Children’s service line supports a vibrant and growing community with approximately 2,000 births annually and a multidisciplinary care team committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for mothers, newborns, and pediatric patients.

The service line includes:

• 24-bed Labor, Delivery, Recovery & Postpartum Unit (LDRP)
• 12-bed Special Care Nursery (SCN)
• 26-bed Pediatric / Medical-Surgical Unit

The Director provides leadership for approximately 75–80 FTEs, including two Clinical Managers and an Assistant Nurse Manager, while partnering closely with physicians, clinical educators, and operational leaders to deliver high-quality care and enhance service line performance.

Key Leadership Responsibilities

The Director of Nursing will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Women’s & Children’s service line. Key priorities include:

• Leading and developing clinical leaders and staff to support high-quality, patient- and family-centered care
• Advancing nursing practice standards consistent with AWHONN perinatal guidelines
• Overseeing clinical operations for LDRP, Special Care Nursery, and Pediatric/Med-Surg services
• Driving service line growth, operational efficiency, and performance improvement initiatives
• Supporting implementation of enhanced clinical capabilities including cesarean-section program operations
• Developing and monitoring operational dashboards and quality metrics
• Ensuring compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional practice standards
• Partnering with physician leadership and interdisciplinary teams to improve outcomes and patient experience
• Managing departmental budgets, staffing models, and fiscal performance
• Supporting innovation in maternal-child health programs, including initiatives such as donor milk programs

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking nursing leader with a strong background in maternal-child health and service line leadership.

Ideal candidates will bring:

• Experience leading Women’s & Children’s or maternal-child health programs
• Expertise in LDRP and perinatal care environments
• Knowledge of Special Care Nursery or neonatal services
• Pediatric and/or adult medical-surgical leadership experience
• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders, build strong teams, and drive operational improvements
• Experience managing quality dashboards, performance improvement initiatives, and clinical operations

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s in Nursing required
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field preferred
• Minimum five years of progressive management experience in a complex healthcare environment
• Current Registered Nurse license eligible for practice in Maryland
• Professional certification in nursing leadership or maternal-child specialty preferred
• Experience with AWHONN perinatal standards preferred

Why Join Meritus Health?

At Meritus Health, our mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve. Our Women’s & Children’s team is dedicated to delivering safe, compassionate care while continuously advancing the quality of maternal and pediatric services.

As Director of Nursing, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead and shape a vital service line within a growing health system
• Mentor and develop emerging nurse leaders
• Advance maternal-child health initiatives that directly impact families in our region
• Collaborate with an engaged leadership team committed to clinical excellence

Caring for Our Team
We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees' well-being and professional growth. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance available starting the 1st of the month following date of hire, along with life insurance, & short and long-term disability coverage. Paid Time Off begins accruing from day one, and we also provide a 401k plan, an education assistance program, and an employee assistance program. Additionally, employees working evening, night, or weekend shifts may be eligible for a shift differential, adding even more value to your role.

Happy to Help

At Meritus, we believe in a collaborative and caring work environment. Interactions are an opportunity to learn, listen and to be there for one another. Therefore, we provide warm welcomes, hospitality-driven closures, and are always Happy to Help. 

Salary : $52 - $84