Director of Nursing (DON)

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Nursing (DON) – Heritage Health Care Center

NEW MONTHLY INCENTIVE BONUS

St. Louis, MO | 120-Bed Skilled Nursing Facility | Clinical Leadership Opportunity. Experience with Mental/Behavioral health is preferred.

NEW MONTHLY INCENTIVE PROGRAM FOR DIRECTOR OF NURSING

Heritage Health Care Center is seeking an experienced and hands-on Director of Nursing (DON) to lead clinical operations in our 120-bed skilled nursing facility in St. Louis .

This is an opportunity for a nurse leader who wants to do more than manage a department. We are looking for someone who can build a strong nursing team, develop future leaders, improve clinical outcomes, and create a culture where employees want to come to work and residents receive the highest level of care.

The ideal candidate is a leader with genuine empathy, patience, strong interpersonal skills, and the ability to lead in a changing environment. Experience with psychiatric and behavioral health residents is required.

Our philosophy is built around three pillars for successful employment:

Work Ethic. Integrity. Competence.

If you are a DON who enjoys being visible, building relationships, solving problems, and developing people, this is an opportunity to make a meaningful impact.

Why This Opportunity?

• 120-bed skilled nursing facility providing an opportunity for hands-on leadership and meaningful visibility throughout the building.

• Opportunity to build and strengthen a nursing leadership team

• Ability to make a measurable impact on clinical outcomes, staffing, resident satisfaction, and quality

• Supportive leadership environment

• Opportunity to work directly with residents, families, staff, and interdisciplinary leadership

• NEW monthly performance incentive program for the Director of Nursing

• Professional growth and development opportunities

Job Responsibilities & Duties

• Provide overall leadership and oversight of nursing operations.

• Lead, mentor, and develop the nursing leadership team and frontline nursing staff.

• Assess residents' health needs and ensure appropriate care plans and interventions are developed and implemented.

• Ensure medications, treatments, and physician orders are appropriately administered and followed.

• Monitor residents' conditions and ensure changes in condition are communicated and addressed appropriately.

• Partner with the Administrator and interdisciplinary team to improve resident outcomes.

• Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation and compliance with regulatory requirements.

• Lead nursing staff education, orientation, competency development, and ongoing training.

• Promote strong communication with residents and families.

• Develop and maintain a culture of accountability, teamwork, respect, and resident-centered care .

• Identify opportunities to improve staffing, retention, quality measures, and clinical outcomes.

• Assist with hands-on resident care when necessary and lead by example.

• Maintain knowledge of current nursing practices, regulatory requirements, and evidence-based standards.

• Help create an environment where staff feel supported, valued, and empowered to succeed.

• Provide calm, decisive leadership in a fast-changing healthcare environment .

Behavioral Health Experience Required

Heritage Health Care Center is seeking a DON who understands the unique challenges of caring for residents with psychiatric and behavioral health needs .

The successful candidate will be comfortable working with residents who may have:

• Psychiatric diagnoses

• Behavioral health conditions

• Dementia and cognitive impairment

• Complex medical needs

• Behavioral symptoms requiring individualized interventions

The DON must be able to coach staff, develop individualized approaches to resident care, de-escalate challenging situations, and create a safe and supportive environment for residents and employees.

Qualifications

• Current Missouri Registered Nurse (RN) license.

• Previous nursing leadership experience in a Skilled Nursing Facility preferred.

• Two or more years of supervisory/leadership experience preferred.

• Required experience working with psychiatric and behavioral health residents.

• Strong understanding of nursing policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

• Strong problem-solving and critical-thinking abilities.

• Demonstrated ability to build, mentor, and retain strong teams.

• Ability to manage multiple priorities and remain calm in a changing environment.

• Strong commitment to resident-centered care and employee development.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive Salary

• NEW Monthly Performance Incentive Bonus

• Health Insurance

• Dental Insurance

• Vision Insurance

• Disability Insurance

• Life Insurance

• 401(k)

• Paid Time Off (PTO)

• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Additional Benefits

$0 Copay Telemedicine
Access telemedicine appointments with no copay, providing convenient access to medical consultations from home.

Unlimited Assistance
Receive unlimited support for legal, financial, childcare, elder care, and other personal and family needs.

Mayo Clinic Programs
Access wellness resources and programs from Mayo Clinic covering fitness, lifestyle, mental health, nutrition, and overall well-being.

These additional benefits are provided without reducing your take-home pay.