System Chief Nursing Officer (Nashville)

Kirby Bates Associates has been exclusively retained by Vanderbilt Health to conduct a search for their next System Chief Nursing Officer. This is an exceptional opportunity to shape the future of nursing at a world-class academic health system recognized for innovation, growth, and clinical excellence.

The System Chief Nursing Officer (System CNO) serves as the senior nursing executive for Vanderbilt Health, responsible for the vision and strategic direction for nursing practice standards, quality, workforce development, and patient care across a rapidly growing, integrated academic health system. Reporting at the highest levels of the organization, the System CNO sets the vision for nursing excellence, leads system-wide clinical transformation initiatives, partners with executive, physician, and operational leaders, and advances evidence-based practice, innovation, research, and professional nursing standards. This highly visible executive role offers the opportunity to shape the future of nursing across multiple hospitals and care settings while fostering a culture of collaboration, exceptional patient outcomes, workforce engagement, leadership development, and professional nursing excellence. The System CNO reports directly to the Deputy CEO & Chief Health System Officer.

Opportunity Highlights

• Shape the future of nursing across a nationally recognized academic health system , leading strategy, practice standards, workforce development, and clinical transformation across eight hospitals and a rapidly expanding regional network.
• Drive system-wide impact at scale , influencing care delivery for millions of patient encounters annually while partnering with executive leaders, physician leaders, researchers, and operational teams to advance quality, safety, and patient experience.
• Leave a lasting leadership legacy by developing the next generation of nurse leaders, advancing professional practice, and helping integrate community hospitals and regional care settings into a unified, high-performing system of care.
• Unprecedented Growth: Vanderbilt Health has responded to Nashville’s rapid expansion with four new floors at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and the 15-floor Jim Ayers Tower at VUH, the system has expanded to almost 2,000 inpt beds and revenues have tripled over the past 10 years.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees required (one of which must be in Nursing). Doctorate preferred.
• Current RN license in the state of Tennessee (or ability to obtain); Nurse Executive Certification (NEA-BC) or Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) preferred.
• At least 10 years progressive executive nursing leadership experience in a large, complex health system, with experience as a CNO in a multi-hospital environment strongly preferred.
• Experience working across both academic and community-based healthcare settings.
• Demonstrated success developing high-performing teams and future nurse leaders.
• Exceptional strategic, communication, and relationship-building skills with executive, physician, and board stakeholders