Director Of Nursing - Outpatient Surgical Services

Job Description

Job Description

Job Title: Director of Nursing — Surgical Services

Department: Executive Leadership / Clinical Operations
Reports To: Vice President of Operations
Works Closely With: Center Manager, Surgical Staff, Physicians, and Administrative Team
Status: Full-Time | Exempt

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) – Surgical Services is a senior executive leader responsible for the clinical oversight, operational excellence, and accreditation compliance of two ambulatory surgery centers. This role provides strategic and hands-on leadership across all nursing and surgical staff functions, including hiring, staffing, education, and role development. The DON serves as the primary clinical authority within the organization, partnering with the Vice President of Operations and Center Manager to ensure both surgery centers deliver safe, high-quality, and compliant patient care. The DON leads all QUAD A accreditation initiatives and quality assurance activities, and acts as a key liaison between clinical staff and physician partners.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Strategic Partnership

• Serve as a core member of the executive leadership team, contributing clinical perspective to organizational strategy, planning, and decision-making
• Partner with the VP of Operations to set clinical goals, performance benchmarks, and quality improvement priorities across both surgery centers
• Collaborate daily with the Center Manager to ensure alignment between clinical operations and physician practice management and administrative functions
• Represent the nursing and clinical teams in executive discussions, advocating for resources, staffing, and operational improvements

QUAD A Accreditation Oversight

• Serve as the organization's primary point of accountability for QUAD A accreditation compliance across both surgery centers
• Maintain current knowledge of all QUAD A standards and ensure ongoing operational and documentation adherence
• Oversee all accreditation logs, clinical records, and required documentation to ensure accuracy, completeness, and timely submission
• Lead preparation for accreditation surveys, mock audits, and on-site reviews
• Develop and execute corrective action plans in response to any accreditation findings or deficiencies

Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement

• Design, lead, and manage all accreditation-related quality assurance projects and clinical performance improvement initiatives
• Analyze clinical data, incident reports, and outcome metrics to identify trends and areas for improvement
• Establish and monitor key quality indicators across both centers, reporting findings and recommendations to the VP and executive team
• Foster a culture of continuous quality improvement among all clinical and surgical staff

Daily Clinical Operations

• Oversee the day-to-day clinical operations of both surgery centers, ensuring efficient, safe, and patient-centered care delivery
• Proactively identify operational delays, bottlenecks, and workflow inefficiencies and lead the development of practical, sustainable solutions
• Monitor surgical scheduling, room turnover, and case flow to optimize throughput and minimize disruption
• Ensure all clinical areas maintain readiness standards for both routine operations and emergency situations

Physician Relations & Clinical Support

• Serve as the primary clinical nursing liaison for physician partners, addressing clinical concerns, discrepancies, and issues in a timely and professional manner
• Facilitate communication and resolution between physicians and clinical staff when care delivery, protocols, or procedural standards are in question
• Support physicians in maintaining a safe and compliant surgical environment and collaborate on process improvements related to clinical care delivery

Staffing, Hiring & Workforce Management

• Lead all aspects of surgical nursing and clinical staff recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and onboarding across both surgery centers
• Develop and maintain staffing models that ensure appropriate coverage, skill mix, and continuity of care for all surgical services
• Monitor and manage staffing levels in response to case volume, scheduling changes, and staff availability
• Conduct performance evaluations, manage disciplinary processes, and support staff retention initiatives in collaboration with the Center Manager and VP

Education, Training & Role Development

• Develop, implement, and oversee clinical education and competency programs for all surgical nursing and clinical support staff
• Ensure all staff maintain required certifications, licensure, and competencies relevant to their roles and applicable regulatory standards
• Identify skill gaps and create targeted development plans to elevate the clinical capabilities of the team
• Design and refine role structures, job responsibilities, and career pathways for surgical staff to support organizational growth and staff engagement
• Champion a culture of clinical excellence, accountability, and professional development throughout both centers

Clinical Documentation & Compliance

• Ensure all clinical documentation practices across both surgery centers meet QUAD A, state regulatory, and organizational standards
• Oversee the maintenance and accuracy of accreditation logs, quality records, policy and procedure documentation, and clinical audit trails
• Lead policy and procedure development and review cycles, ensuring documents are current, evidence-based, and operationally relevant

Qualifications

• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing, required
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or related graduate degree strongly preferred
• Minimum 5–7 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, with at least 3 years in an ambulatory surgery center, perioperative, or surgical services setting
• Demonstrated experience managing accreditation processes, with QUAD A experience strongly preferred (AAAHC or Joint Commission accreditation experience also considered)
• Proven track record in clinical quality assurance, performance improvement, and regulatory compliance
• Strong experience in staff hiring, development, and operational leadership
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to lead, influence, and collaborate across clinical and administrative functions

Preferred Qualifications

• CNOR (Certified Nurse Operating Room) or CASC (Certified Administrator Surgery Center) certification
• Experience leading multi-site clinical operations
• Familiarity with physician practice environments and the operational dynamics of a combined practice and surgery center model
• Experience developing clinical education curricula and competency assessment programs

Position Information

• Full Time, Salaried
• Medical, Dental and Vision Benefits
• PTO and Paid Holidays 
• Other Potential Compensation Considerations - Mileage, Cell Phone Reimbursement and Quality-Based Bonuses