Acute Care Director of Nursing

Job Description

Job Description

Director of Nursing - Acute Care

Department : Acute Care FLSA Status: Exempt Reports To: CEO

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for the strategic leadership, clinical oversight, regulatory compliance, operational management, and quality performance of the organization's Acute Care Hospital, Swing Bed Program, and Emergency Department. The DON ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centered care while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and applicable accreditation standards.

The Director of Nursing serves as the senior nursing leader for inpatient and emergency services and collaborates closely with providers, department leaders, quality and compliance personnel, and executive leadership to achieve organizational goals and improve patient outcomes. The DON promotes excellence in nursing practice, staff development, patient safety, quality improvement, and regulatory readiness.

Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesNursing Leadership and Administration

• Provide overall leadership and direction for nursing services within Acute Care and Emergency Department operations.
• Establish nursing department goals, objectives, and performance measures aligned with organizational strategic initiatives.
• Ensure nursing care is delivered consistent with evidence-based practice, organizational policies, and professional nursing standards.
• Serve as a member of the organization's leadership team and participate in strategic and operational planning.
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, collaboration, and patient-centered care.
• Serve as the nursing representative for leadership committees and Governing Board activities as assigned.

Acute Care Services Oversight

• Direct and oversee acute care nursing operations.
• Ensure appropriate staffing levels and competency requirements are maintained.
• Monitor patient outcomes, quality indicators, and nursing-sensitive measures.
• Collaborate with providers and interdisciplinary teams to improve care coordination.
• Ensure compliance with inpatient care regulations and applicable Conditions of Participation.
• Support implementation of clinical pathways and evidence-based practices.

Swing Bed Program

• Provide resources to the Swing bed Director and Case management team for the Swing Bed Program.
• Ensure compliance with nursing staff with Swing Bed requirements and organizational policies.
• Collaborate with therapy, case management, providers, and social services to facilitate successful transitions of care.
• Providing support on care plans are so they remain individualized and interdisciplinary.
• Monitor and improve quality measures related to Swing Bed services.

Emergency Department Oversight

• Direct nursing operations of the Emergency Department.
• Ensure ongoing compliance with EMTALA and emergency services requirements.
• Monitor patient flow, triage processes, throughput, and patient experience.
• Ensure emergency nursing staff maintain required certifications and competencies.
• Oversee readiness for trauma, medical emergencies, disasters, and mass-casualty incidents.
• Collaborate with EMS agencies, public health partners, and community emergency-response organizations.

Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

• Lead nursing participation in the Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
• Identify clinical improvement opportunities through data analysis and outcome monitoring.
• Monitor infection prevention indicators, patient falls, medication events, and other nursing quality measures.
• Lead or participate in root cause analyses and corrective action planning.
• Promote a culture of safety and continuous improvement.
• Evaluate the implementation and sustained effectiveness of corrective action plans.

Regulatory Compliance and Survey Readiness

• Maintain nursing-service compliance with CMS requirements, Critical Access Hospital Conditions of Participation, state nursing regulations, EMTALA, OSHA, HIPAA, infection prevention standards, and applicable accreditation requirements.
• Coordinate nursing preparation for surveys, audits, inspections, and regulatory reviews.
• Develop, review, and maintain nursing policies, procedures, and standards of practice.
• Ensure nursing documentation meets regulatory, legal, and professional standards.

Staffing and Workforce Management

• Recruit, mentor, develop, and retain qualified nursing personnel.
• Establish staffing plans and productivity standards.
• Oversee scheduling processes and staffing coverage.
• Conduct or ensure completion of performance evaluations and competency assessments.
• Address employee-relations and corrective-action matters consistent with organizational policy.
• Promote succession planning, employee engagement, and leadership development within nursing services.

Education and Clinical Competency

• Ensure effective orientation, onboarding, and continuing education programs.
• Validate required nursing competencies and maintain appropriate records.
• Promote professional certification and evidence-based nursing practice.
• Coordinate annual education and competency assessments.
• Support the development of future nursing leaders.

Budget and Resource Management

• Develop and manage nursing department budgets.
• Monitor labor costs, productivity, supplies, and operational expenses.
• Assist with capital-equipment planning and acquisition.
• Identify opportunities for financial stewardship and operational efficiency.
• Participate in annual budget planning and forecasting.

Emergency Preparedness

• Participate in organizational emergency-preparedness planning.
• Ensure nursing department readiness for disasters and emergency events.
• Coordinate nursing-response activities during emergencies.
• Participate in drills, exercises, and after-action reviews.

Supervisory Responsibilities

The Director of Nursing has direct responsibility for assigned nursing leaders and personnel within Acute Care and Emergency Department services. Responsibilities include hiring and onboarding, staff scheduling and workforce planning, performance management, competency validation, coaching and mentoring, corrective action, staff development, succession planning, and regulatory compliance oversight.

QualificationsEducation

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

Licensure and Certifications

• Current Registered Nurse license in Wyoming, or ability to obtain and maintain licensure, required.
• Current BLS and ACLS certification required.
• TNCC, ENPC, CEN, NE-BC, CPHQ, or other relevant professional certification preferred.

Experience

• Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive nursing experience required.
• 3 year of Nursing leadership experience is preferred
• Hospital-based nursing leadership and multidisciplinary team supervision experience required.
• Critical Access Hospital, Swing Bed, Emergency Department, and regulatory survey experience preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of Critical Access Hospital requirements, CMS Conditions of Participation, Swing Bed requirements, and EMTALA.
• Strong clinical nursing judgment, leadership, team-building, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to lead quality improvement, patient safety, regulatory readiness, and change-management initiatives.
• Budgeting, productivity management, strategic planning, and organizational development skills.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and healthcare technology systems.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound judgment in complex clinical and operational situations.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent standing, walking, sitting, speaking, hearing, and use of standard office and clinical equipment.
• Ability to occasionally lift or move up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to respond to clinical emergencies when necessary.
• Ability to travel between organizational facilities as assigned.
• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals to perform the essential functions.