DIRECTOR OF NURSING - SENIOR SCHOOL

Director of Nursing
Full-time, 12-month, Exempt

Shady Side Academy seeks an experienced and collaborative Director of Nursing to lead and support all aspects of nursing and health services operations across the Academy. The Director provides strategic leadership, clinical oversight, and operational management for a multi-campus nursing program serving both day and boarding students.

The Director oversees the nursing staff and all nursing operations, including staffing and scheduling for a team of four campus-specific nurses, as well as additional Upper Campus nursing staff supporting residential life. The Director is responsible for establishing and maintaining high standards of clinical care; developing, implementing, and monitoring policies and procedures; and providing supervision, evaluation, and professional development for nursing personnel.

The Director serves as a member of the Academy’s Incident Command and Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) teams and plays a key role in emergency preparedness and institutional risk mitigation related to student health and safety.

In addition to leadership and administrative responsibilities, the Director maintains a clinical presence as one of two Upper Campus nurses, providing direct care and oversight of the Upper Campus Health Center. The Health Center is a 2,000-square-foot facility serving approximately 475 day and boarding students in grades 9–12 and includes exam space, six private beds, a waiting area, kitchen, ADA-accessible bathrooms, and wireless connectivity. The Health Center is also home to the Senior School nursing team, including the night/after-hours nurse and weekend nursing staff who support the residential life program.

The Director also provides nursing support for the Academy’s summer camp programs as needed.

While maintaining a clinical role, the Director’s primary focus is leadership, oversight, and coordination of nursing services across all Academy campuses. This position requires flexibility, including participation in a rotating weekend schedule and occasional work during school breaks.

Leadership Responsibilities

• Provide effective leadership and management of Shady Side Academy’s nursing program, fostering a strong commitment to student wellness and high-quality health care.
• Establish and maintain clear, effective internal and external communication related to the Academy’s delivery of student health services.
• In collaboration with nursing staff and administration, develop, review, and revise nursing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with licensure requirements, regulatory standards, and best practices.
• Promote collegial relationships and collaboration with colleagues in residential life, counseling, athletics, academic leadership, and other areas to ensure continuity and coordination of student care.
• Exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority related to nursing operations, staffing, and clinical standards.

Management Responsibilities

• Manage and oversee the Academy’s health services budget, including budget planning and monitoring for all four campuses.
• Supervise nursing staff and support their professional growth and development.
• Recruit, interview, and recommend candidates for nursing positions.
• Design and implement a comprehensive orientation and onboarding process for newly hired nursing staff.
• Conduct regular performance evaluations and provide ongoing feedback and coaching.
• Ensure all nursing staff maintain required certifications and training, including CPR/AED and bloodborne pathogen training.
• Provide leadership and support related to the effective use of electronic medical records systems.
• Implement and monitor procedures to ensure compliance with regulations governing the administration and dispensing of medications.
• Coordinate and support health center clinics and initiatives, including annual influenza immunization clinics.
• Coordinate and manage transportation for boarding students to medical appointments in collaboration with residential life staff and school transportation personnel.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Oversee all aspects of nursing care provided by the Academy’s nursing staff and provide direct patient care to Upper Campus students as needed.
• Review clinical documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and compliance with applicable standards and regulations; provide training and guidance as needed.
• Oversee the review of new student health records to ensure compliance with Pennsylvania immunization requirements and Academy policies.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Develop nursing schedules and staffing assignments, including weekend and after-hours coverage in support of the residential life program.
• Monitor and approve time-off requests for nursing staff.
• Monitor the condition of nursing and health center equipment and collaborate with the Director of Operations regarding repair or replacement needs.
• Manage international student insurance enrollment through the Academy’s partnership with Clifford Allen Associates.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing required; Master’s degree preferred.
• Licensed Registered Nurse in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania required.
• Secondary school health care experience required.
• Demonstrated experience supervising nursing staff required; three or more years of nursing management experience preferred.
• Certification in CPR/AED required.
• Pennsylvania Department of Education School Nurse PK–12 Certificate preferred; required within 18 months of assuming the position.
• Strong communication, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to adapt and leverage technology to improve health services delivery.