Director of Nursing

We are seeking an experienced Director of Nursing (DON) to lead clinical operations in a skilled nursing facility. The DON is responsible for overall nursing services, clinical outcomes, regulatory compliance, survey readiness, staffing, and quality improvement. This leader will excel at building a positive, resident-first culture, developing clinical teams, and driving measurable quality results.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Operations

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership for all nursing services in accordance with state and federal regulations (CMS), facility policies, and standards of practice.
• Oversee resident care delivery, care planning, and documentation to ensure clinical excellence, safety, and dignity of residents.
• Ensure appropriate nurse staffing levels, skill mix, and scheduling to meet acuity and census needs; oversee use of agency staffing as needed.
• Round regularly on units; respond to clinical escalations and family concerns promptly and professionally.

Regulatory Compliance & Survey Readiness

• Maintain continuous survey readiness; lead preparations, plan of correction (POC) development, and timely follow-through.
• Ensure compliance with Arkansas Office of Long Term Care (OLTC) and federal long-term care regulations, including F-Tags and OBRA requirements.
• Monitor incident/accident reporting, abuse prevention protocols, and grievance process compliance.

Quality, Risk, & Clinical Programs

• Lead the QAPI (Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement) program, including data tracking and action plans to improve quality measures and Five-Star performance.
• Oversee infection prevention and control program (antibiotic stewardship, surveillance, outbreak response).
• Partner with therapy, dietary, social services, and medical director to optimize outcomes (e.g., rehospitalization reduction, weight loss prevention, falls management, pressure injury prevention, psychotropic stewardship, pain management).

Documentation, MDS, & Care Planning

• Ensure accurate and timely completion of assessments, physician orders, care plans, and progress notes consistent with regulatory timelines.
• Collaborate with the MDS Coordinator on RAI process accuracy, case-mix and PDPM impacts, and supportive documentation.
• Audit charts for completeness, accuracy, and medical necessity; implement corrective actions.

Talent, Culture, & Development

• Recruit, hire, onboard, mentor, and retain high-performing nursing staff; manage performance and accountability.
• Oversee mandatory education, competencies, and annual skills validations; ensure specialty trainings (e.g., wound care, dementia care).
• Foster a culture of teamwork, respect, service excellence, and resident-centered care.

Clinical Partnerships & Communication

• Build strong relationships with residents, families, physicians, hospital partners, and ancillary providers.
• Participate in IDT meetings, utilization review, morning meetings, and leadership huddles.
• Support admissions review and clinical acceptance decisions; ensure safe and timely transitions of care.

Qualifications

• Required: Current unencumbered RN license in the State of Arkansas (or compact state eligibility with AR endorsement prior to start).
• Experience: 3–5 years of nursing leadership in long-term care/skilled nursing; prior DON or ADON experience strongly preferred.
• Strong knowledge of long-term care regulations (CMS), survey processes, QAPI, infection prevention, PDPM/MDS fundamentals, and clinical best practices.
• Proven success in team leadership, staff development, and change management.
• Exceptional communication, organization, and critical-thinking skills; data-driven and results-oriented.
• Certifications preferred: Infection Preventionist training (NHSN/CDC or equivalent), WCC/WOCN, CPR/BLS.