Director of Nursing (DON)

Position Overview

We are seeking an experienced and highly skilled Director of Nursing (DON) to lead and oversee all nursing operations within the healthcare facility. This role is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of patient care, nursing practice excellence, regulatory compliance, and effective leadership of nursing staff across all departments.

The ideal candidate is a strong clinical leader with extensive nursing experience, proven administrative capability, and a deep commitment to patient safety, quality improvement, and staff development. This role plays a critical part in shaping nursing strategy, workforce planning, and clinical outcomes across the organization.

Location Requirement

To support operational leadership and on-site clinical oversight, candidates must currently reside in one of the following metropolitan areas in the United States:

• Dallas, Texas

• Houston, Texas

• Austin, Texas

• Atlanta, Georgia

• Jacksonville, Florida

• Miami, Florida

• Nashville, Tennessee

• Charlotte, North Carolina

• Phoenix, Arizona

Candidates outside of these locations will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

Nursing Leadership & Clinical Oversight

• Provide strategic leadership for all nursing departments and units

• Oversee daily nursing operations to ensure safe, high-quality patient care

• Establish and enforce nursing standards, policies, and procedures

• Ensure compliance with clinical best practices and evidence-based care

• Supervise Nurse Managers, Charge Nurses, and clinical nursing staff

Quality Improvement & Patient Safety

• Lead hospital-wide patient safety and quality improvement initiatives

• Monitor clinical outcomes and implement corrective action plans

• Reduce hospital-acquired infections, readmissions, and adverse events

• Oversee incident reporting, root cause analysis, and safety investigations

• Ensure adherence to Joint Commission and regulatory standards

Staff Management & Workforce Development

• Recruit, hire, train, and retain nursing staff

• Conduct performance evaluations and support professional development

• Manage staffing levels, scheduling, and workforce allocation

• Promote a positive, supportive, and accountable nursing culture

• Address disciplinary actions and performance improvement plans when necessary

Policy, Compliance & Accreditation

• Ensure compliance with state, federal, and healthcare regulatory requirements

• Maintain readiness for audits and accreditation surveys (e.g., Joint Commission)

• Develop and update nursing policies and clinical guidelines

• Ensure proper documentation and adherence to healthcare standards

• Collaborate with compliance and risk management teams

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Collaborate with physicians, hospital administration, and allied health professionals

• Participate in executive leadership meetings and strategic planning

• Align nursing operations with organizational goals and financial objectives

• Support interdisciplinary care coordination and service excellence

• Communicate nursing performance metrics to executive leadership

Budgeting & Resource Management

• Manage nursing department budgets and resource allocation

• Optimize staffing efficiency while maintaining quality of care

• Oversee procurement of nursing supplies and equipment

• Contribute to financial planning and cost-control initiatives

• Ensure efficient utilization of hospital resources

Emergency Preparedness & Crisis Management

• Lead nursing response during emergencies and critical incidents

• Ensure readiness for disaster response and surge capacity situations

• Develop and maintain emergency preparedness protocols

• Coordinate nursing involvement in hospital-wide emergency drills

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) preferred

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the United States

• 7+ years of clinical nursing experience

• 3–5+ years of nursing leadership or management experience

• Strong knowledge of healthcare regulations, compliance, and accreditation standards

• Experience in hospital or acute care settings

• Proven leadership, communication, and organizational skills

• Must currently reside in one of the approved locations listed above

Preferred (Nice-to-Have)

• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or MSN in Nursing Administration or Leadership

• Certification in Nursing Leadership (e.g., CENP, NEA-BC)

• Experience in large hospital systems or multi-site healthcare organizations

• Strong background in quality improvement and patient safety initiatives

• Experience with electronic health record (EHR) systems

• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, or healthcare process improvement methodologies

• Experience managing unionized or large nursing workforces

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Patient Care & Quality

• Patient safety and clinical outcome metrics

• Reduction in hospital-acquired conditions (HACs)

• Readmission and complication rates

• Compliance with care standards and protocols

Nursing Operations

• Staffing efficiency and nurse-to-patient ratio compliance

• Nursing productivity and workflow optimization

• Scheduling accuracy and coverage stability

• Reduction in turnover and vacancy rates

Compliance & Accreditation

• Audit and accreditation readiness scores

• Regulatory compliance adherence rate

• Documentation accuracy and completeness

• Incident reporting and resolution effectiveness

Workforce Development

• Nurse retention and engagement rates

• Training completion and competency scores

• Leadership pipeline development

• Employee satisfaction and morale metrics

Financial & Operational Performance

• Nursing department budget adherence

• Cost efficiency in staffing and resource allocation

• Reduction in overtime and agency staffing costs

• Operational efficiency improvements

Reporting To

• Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

• Chief Medical Officer (CMO)

• Chief Operating Officer (COO)

• Hospital Administrator / CEO (depending on facility structure)

Employment Type & Work Setup

• Full-Time

• On-site hospital or healthcare facility leadership role

• May require on-call availability for emergencies and critical incidents

• Participation in executive leadership meetings and committees

Work Environment & Conditions

• Fast-paced hospital or acute care healthcare environment

• High-responsibility leadership role with direct impact on patient outcomes

• Collaboration with multidisciplinary clinical and administrative teams

• Exposure to regulatory audits, compliance reviews, and quality assessments

• Strong emphasis on patient safety, staff leadership, and operational excellence

• Career progression opportunities into Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) or executive healthcare leadership roles