Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing (DON)

Nexus Children's Hospital - Dallas

Lead the Future of Pediatric Nursing Excellence

At Nexus Children's Hospital - Dallas, we believe exceptional nursing leadership transforms lives. Our hospital provides specialized inpatient care for children and adolescents with complex medical, neurological, developmental, rehabilitation, and behavioral health needs. Through an interdisciplinary approach, we bridge the gap between medical recovery and behavioral care, helping patients achieve the highest level of independence and quality of life.

We are seeking a dynamic and visionary Director of Nursing (DON) to lead our nursing team and drive clinical excellence throughout the hospital. This executive nursing leader will provide strategic direction, operational oversight, and clinical leadership while fostering a culture centered on quality, safety, compassion, and continuous improvement.

If you are an experienced nurse leader who thrives in collaborative environments, enjoys developing high-performing teams, and is passionate about improving pediatric patient outcomes, we invite you to join our mission-driven organization.

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) provides strategic and operational leadership for all nursing services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care. The DON is responsible for nursing operations, workforce development, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, financial stewardship, and cultivating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

Working closely with executive leadership, physicians, rehabilitation specialists, behavioral health clinicians, and interdisciplinary teams, the Director of Nursing ensures nursing services align with the hospital's mission while supporting exceptional patient outcomes and employee engagement.

Essential Responsibilities

Nursing Leadership & Operations

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all nursing services.
• Lead nursing operations to ensure efficient, compassionate, and high-quality patient care.
• Develop staffing plans and workforce strategies that align with patient acuity, census, and operational needs.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, service excellence, and employee engagement.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to achieve organizational goals and drive operational performance.
• Lead nursing operations during emergency activations, regulatory surveys, and accreditation visits.

Clinical Excellence

• Champion evidence-based nursing practice across the organization.
• Monitor clinical performance metrics and implement strategies to improve patient outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary teams to optimize patient care delivery.
• Lead initiatives that reduce hospital-acquired conditions and improve quality indicators.
• Evaluate and revise nursing policies and clinical procedures to reflect best practices.
• Foster innovation through clinical research, technology adoption, and continuous improvement.

Leadership Development & Workforce Excellence

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain exceptional nursing leaders and staff.
• Promote succession planning and leadership development throughout the nursing department.
• Support onboarding, orientation, competency validation, and continuing education.
• Foster a culture of coaching, accountability, recognition, and professional growth.

Patient Experience & Family-Centered Care

• Champion initiatives that improve patient and family satisfaction.
• Advocate for compassionate, culturally competent, and patient-centered care.
• Monitor patient experience metrics and implement improvement strategies.
• Promote a healing environment that supports emotional, developmental, and behavioral well-being.

Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all applicable federal, state, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain survey readiness and support successful regulatory inspections.
• Oversee infection prevention, patient safety, and risk reduction initiatives.
• Utilize quality metrics and operational data to drive performance improvement.
• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation.

Financial & Operational Stewardship

• Develop and manage the nursing department budget.
• Monitor labor productivity, staffing efficiency, and departmental financial performance.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• Participate in capital planning, resource allocation, and operational improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related healthcare field preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of three (3) years of clinical nursing experience required.
• Minimum of two (2) years of progressive nursing leadership experience required.
• Demonstrated success leading clinical operations, quality improvement initiatives, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Experience within pediatric, rehabilitation, behavioral health, or medically complex patient populations strongly preferred.
• Previous hospital leadership experience preferred.

Licensure & Certifications

• Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas.
• BLS certification required.
• ACLS certification required, based on unit requirements.
• PALS certification required, based on unit requirements.
• Behavioral management/de-escalation training within 30 days of hire.
• ANCC Nurse Executive Certification or specialty certification preferred.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong executive leadership and operational management skills.
• Advanced knowledge of evidence-based nursing practice and clinical operations.
• Expertise in quality improvement, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and accreditation standards.
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing budgets, staffing models, and labor productivity.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to mentor, coach, and develop future nursing leaders.
• Proficiency with electronic health records, healthcare analytics, and clinical informatics.
• Skilled in using clinical and operational data to drive strategic decision-making.
• Commitment to compassionate, equitable, and family-centered care.

Why Join Nexus Children's Hospital - Dallas?

• Lead nursing services within a nationally recognized pediatric specialty hospital.
• Collaborate with physicians, rehabilitation specialists, behavioral health professionals, and executive leaders in a highly interdisciplinary environment.
• Shape the future of nursing practice while building and mentoring exceptional clinical teams.
• Influence organizational strategy, patient outcomes, and quality initiatives.
• Join a mission-driven organization dedicated to providing innovative, compassionate care for children and adolescents with complex medical and behavioral needs.
• Competitive compensation and comprehensive benefits package.
• Opportunities for executive leadership growth within a rapidly expanding healthcare system.

At Nexus Children's Hospital - Dallas, our nurses are at the heart of everything we do. As our Director of Nursing, you'll have the opportunity to lead with purpose, inspire excellence, and make a lasting impact on the lives of children, families, and the clinical teams who care for them every day.