Assistant Chief Nursing Officer

Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO)

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) is a key leader and strategic partner to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), accountable for driving clinical excellence, operational performance, workforce stability, and the overall patient and family experience. The ACNO holds responsibility for inpatient nursing operations and hospital throughput, including capacity management, bed placement, and staffing strategy, and designated clinical and ancillary support services. This role is accountable for translating organizational and nursing strategies into measurable operational outcomes, ensuring consistent performance, alignment, and accountability across inpatient services. The ACNO serves as a key operational leader responsible for optimizing patient flow, enhancing workforce effectiveness, and advancing quality, safety, and patient experience outcomes. This leader demonstrates strong business acumen, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to lead complex initiatives across a dynamic healthcare environment. The ACNO promotes a culture aligned with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Nursing Scope, and Standards of Practice, and the AONL Nurse Leader Core Competency Model, fostering a professional practice environment grounded in collaboration, accountability, and excellence.

Reports to: VP for Patient Care Services & Chief Nursing Officer

Direct Oversight: Inpatient Nursing Operations, Nursing Office/Supervisory Functions, and designated clinical and ancillary support services (including Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, and other services as defined by organizational structure and strategic priorities. Required Education/Training: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field Required Licenses/Certification: Current Massachusetts RN licensure

Required Qualifications and Skills:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience
• Minimum of 5 years of Director-level (or equivalent senior leadership) experience in acute care
• Demonstrated experience in inpatient operations, throughput, capacity management, and staffing strategy
• Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and overseeing clinical support services
• Strong data analytics, financial acumen, and performance management expertise
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
• Ability to lead change, manage complexity, and drive organizational results

Key Responsibilities:

• Executive Leadership & Strategic Partnership
• Serves as a strategic partner to the CNO in the development and execution of organizational and nursing priorities
• Represents the CNO in organizational, medical staff, and operational leadership forums
• Provides leadership continuity and decision-making support in the absence of the CNO
• Translates system strategy into operational execution across inpatient services
• Inpatient Operations, Throughput & Capacity Management
• Holds enterprise accountability for inpatient operations, patient flow, throughput, and capacity management
• Establishes standards and accountability for bed placement, patient assignment, and patient progression processes
• Leads hospital-wide initiatives to eliminate delays, optimize throughput, and maximize capacity utilization
• Drives performance improvement in key metrics, including length of stay, discharge efficiency, and patient access
• Oversees interdisciplinary coordination to ensure seamless patient movement across the continuum of care
• Staffing & Workforce Strategy
• Accountable for enterprise inpatient staffing strategy, including staffing models, resource deployment, and skill mix alignment
• Leads workforce stabilization initiatives focused on retention, engagement, and staffing sustainability
• Drives reduction in contract labor and optimization of workforce productivity and efficiency
• Establishes clear expectations and accountability for staffing aligned with acuity and operational demand
• Advances leadership development and succession planning to ensure a strong pipeline of nursing leaders
• Clinical & Ancillary Services Integration
• Provides oversight for inpatient nursing operations and designated clinical and ancillary support services, including Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, and other assigned departments
• Ensures alignment, integration, and performance of clinical and ancillary services to support organizational goals
• Establishes accountability for operational, quality, and service outcomes across these areas
• Promotes coordinated, efficient, and high-quality care delivery across disciplines
• Leads interdisciplinary collaboration to improve operational effectiveness, care standardization, and patient outcomes
• Quality, Safety & Performance
• Holds accountability for quality, patient safety, and patient experience outcomes across inpatient nursing and designated ancillary services
• Owns enterprise performance metrics, ensuring transparency, monitoring, and execution of improvement plans
• Drives system-wide performance improvement initiatives and ensures consistent follow-through
• Ensures regulatory compliance and continuous survey readiness across inpatient services
• Nursing Excellence & Professional Practice
• Advances nursing excellence through professional governance, evidence-based practice, and Magnet readiness
• Strong partnership with clinical practice and professional development leaders to align education, competency, and standards
• Promotes innovation, engagement, and continuous advancement of nursing practice
• Aligns professional practice outcomes with quality, safety, and patient experience results
• Collaboration Across the Care Continuum
• Partners with physicians, case management, finance, and operational leaders to improve outcomes and patient experience
• Strengthens coordination across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services
• Leads initiatives to improve transitions of care, access, and continuity
• Leadership & Talent Development
• Recruits, develops, and retains high-performing nursing and clinical leaders across inpatient and ancillary services
• Provides coaching, performance oversight, and succession planning
• Promotes a culture of accountability, engagement, and high performance
• Builds leadership alignment and organizational capability
• Financial & Operational Performance
• Accountable for labor management, cost of care, and resource utilization across inpatient and designated ancillary services
• Drives operational efficiency aligned with organizational quality, access, and financial goals
• Ensures responsible stewardship of organizational resources while maintaining safety and care standards

Preferred Qualifications and Skills:

• Advanced certification in nursing leadership (e.g., NEA-BC, NE-BC, or equivalent)

Other duties: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Age and Diversity Related Criteria: Consistently treats patients, colleagues and visitors with dignity and respect, while being sensitive to the differing needs of all age groups, backgrounds, characteristics, and cultures.

Ability to Fulfill Job Expectations: Must have the ability to perform essential functions of the position, including required work hours, locations, and physical demands, without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of themselves or other individuals in the workplace, and without reasonable accommodation.