Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing 

Location: Joshua Tree, CA
Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire
Schedule: Day Shift | 24/7 Availability for On-Call Support Required
Facility: 24-Hour Healthcare Facility
Salary: $125,000–$185,000 annually, based on experience
Bonus: AIP Bonus Eligible
Sign-On Bonus: Generous Sign-On Bonus Available for Qualified Candidates
Relocation Assistance: Available based on candidate location and relocation distance

Position Overview

Wheeler Staffing Partners is seeking an experienced Director of Nursing (DON) for a full-time leadership opportunity in Joshua Tree, CA. This position is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for nursing services within a long-term care and skilled nursing environment while ensuring exceptional resident care, regulatory compliance, staff performance, and efficient departmental operations.

The Director of Nursing will serve as a key member of the facility's administrative leadership team and oversee nursing operations, clinical standards, staffing, employee development, quality initiatives, and regulatory compliance. The ideal candidate is a licensed Registered Nurse with significant long-term care or skilled nursing facility (SNF) experience, proven nursing leadership experience, and a strong understanding of state and federal healthcare regulations.

Key Responsibilities

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  Provide leadership and oversight for nursing services and resident care operations.
  
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  Lead by example to promote excellence in resident care, patient safety, service, and clinical quality.
  
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  Direct, supervise, mentor, and support nursing staff to ensure consistent delivery of high-quality care.
  
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  Delegate responsibilities effectively and hold team members accountable for performance and outcomes.
  
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  Establish and maintain nursing standards, policies, procedures, and clinical best practices.
  
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  Ensure nursing services comply with all applicable federal, state, regulatory, licensing, and facility requirements.
  
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  Monitor resident care and clinical outcomes and implement corrective actions or quality improvements when necessary.
  
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  Collaborate with physicians, clinical teams, administration, and other departments to coordinate resident care.
  
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  Participate as a key member of the facility's administrative and leadership team.
  
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  Support recruitment, onboarding, training, development, scheduling, and retention of nursing personnel.
  
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  Evaluate nursing staff performance and provide coaching, feedback, and professional development.
  
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  Promote a positive, collaborative, accountable, and resident-focused work environment.
  
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  Manage nursing department operations within established staffing and departmental budgets.
  
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  Monitor staffing levels and nursing resources to maintain appropriate coverage and quality of care.
  
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  Participate in quality assurance, performance improvement, risk management, and regulatory readiness initiatives.
  
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  Maintain accurate documentation and ensure nursing records meet regulatory and organizational standards.
  
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  Support facility inspections, surveys, audits, and accreditation activities.
  
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  Address resident, family, employee, and interdisciplinary team concerns professionally and promptly.
  
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  Maintain availability for leadership support and on-call responsibilities in a 24-hour healthcare environment.
  

Required Qualifications

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  Current and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license.
  
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  Minimum of 5 years of professional RN experience.
  
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  Minimum of 2 years of nursing supervisory or Nurse Manager experience.
  
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  Previous experience in long-term care and/or a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) is required.
  
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  Current CPR certification.
  
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  Demonstrated experience leading and managing nursing teams.
  
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  Strong knowledge of state and federal regulations governing long-term care and skilled nursing services.
  
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  Experience with nursing operations, staffing, clinical quality, compliance, and resident care.
  
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  Demonstrated ability to delegate responsibilities and achieve results through others.
  
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  Ability to manage departmental resources and operate within established budgets.
  
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  Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
  
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  Ability to collaborate effectively with administrative, clinical, and interdisciplinary teams.
  
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  Ability to maintain 24/7 availability for leadership and on-call needs as required.
  

Preferred Qualifications

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  Previous Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, or senior nursing leadership experience within a skilled nursing or long-term care facility.
  
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  Experience supporting regulatory surveys, audits, compliance initiatives, and quality improvement programs.
  
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  Demonstrated success improving clinical quality, resident outcomes, staff performance, and operational efficiency.
  

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced nursing leader with a strong background in skilled nursing and long-term care who can balance clinical excellence with effective operational leadership. This individual is comfortable leading nursing teams, managing departmental priorities, maintaining regulatory compliance, and partnering with facility leadership to deliver high-quality resident care.

Compensation & Incentives

The anticipated salary range for this position is $125,000–$185,000 annually, with compensation determined based on years of experience and qualifications. The position is also eligible for an AIP bonus, and a generous sign-on bonus is available for qualified candidates. Relocation assistance may be offered depending on the candidate's current location and relocation distance.

About Wheeler Staffing Partners

Wheeler Staffing Partners connects experienced healthcare professionals and leaders with opportunities at healthcare organizations nationwide. We partner closely with candidates and clients to provide a streamlined recruiting experience and identify professionals who can make an immediate and lasting impact.