Director of Nursing (DON) - RN

Stratford Specialty Care, 1200 Hwy 175 East, Stratford, Iowa, United States of America Job Description Posted Monday, August 31, 2026 at 6:00 AM Stratford Specialty Care , a 53-bed long-term care skilled nursing community located in Stratford, IA, is now hiring! Director of Nursing (DON - RN) Make a Difference Every Day – Join Care Initiatives as a DON! Are you a compassionate Registered Nurse (RN) leader that is looking to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals during their healthcare journey? If so, join Care Initiatives as a DON, where you will provide comprehensive care that truly matters. With over forty (40) skilled nursing communities across Iowa, we are committed to providing exceptional care and support at every stage of the healthcare journey. As a DON on our team, you will have the opportunity to apply your skills and demonstrate your compassion, positively influencing the lives of our residents and team members. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our residents, their loved ones, and our team members. Join a forward-thinking organization where your expertise is valued, and your leadership shapes the future of care. What You’ll Do & Key Responsibilities: Lead and oversee all nursing operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and high clinical standards of the nursing department. Champion a person-centered, home-like care model that honors resident choice, dignity, and independence. Coach, mentor, and inspire nursing leaders and staff to deliver exceptional, relationship-based care. Ensure residents and families receive the right level of care through strong care coordination and smooth service transitions. Drive staffing effectiveness, team member safety, budget accountability, and operational efficiency. Prepare, educate, and guide the team to achieve deficiency-free surveys while maintaining a non-institutional approach to care. Partner with interdisciplinary teams on pre-admission reviews, discharge planning, and occupancy support. Ensure nursing staff conduct regular rounds to monitor care delivery concerns and progress; acknowledge the progress while proposing and helping implement solutions to address concerns. Enforce policies and guide the team, fostering both personal and team growth. Manage administrative functions to enhance department efficiency and pave the way for future growth. Participate in an on-call rotation with other members of the leadership team. Qualifications: Prior leadership experience within long-term care as an ADON/DON. Valid RN license in good standing. License must be valid within the state of Iowa, or ability to activate. Current, valid CPR Certification. Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations and laws. A desire to learn and grow as part of a quality focused clinical team. A strong commitment to helping others and consistently treating them with empathy, respect, patience, and discretion. Why Join Care Initiatives? Competitive Compensation: Earn a highly competitive wage. Unlimited Paid Time Off: Enjoy healthy work life balance. Comprehensive Benefits: Eligible employees enjoy robust benefit options including medical, dental, vision, 403(b) retirement savings plan, unlimited PTO, and more. Tuition Reimbursement: Develop your skills with company paid training and education to take your career to the next level. Digital Wallet Access: Get paid as you earn—no more waiting for payday! Committed to attracting and retaining a diverse staff, Care Initiatives will honor your experiences, perspectives, and unique identity. Together, our community strives to create and maintain working and learning environments that are inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. Care Initiatives is an Affiantive Action and Equal Opportunity Employer. Care Initiatives complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, parental status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. Stratford Specialty Care, 1200 Hwy 175 East, Stratford, Iowa, United States of America #J-18808-Ljbffr