General PurposeThe Director of Nursing (DON), Registered Nurse (RN), is responsible for the overall leadership, direction, and management of nursing services within the skilled nursing facility. This role ensures high-quality, resident-centered care, regulatory compliance, survey readiness, effective staffing, clinical documentation integrity, and collaboration with interdisciplinary teams. The Director of Nursing serves as a key member of the facility leadership team and supports operational performance, quality improvement, resident safety, and staff development.
ResponsibilitiesLeadership & Staff Management- Direct, coordinate, and oversee nursing staff to ensure safe, effective, and compassionate resident care.
- Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate nursing personnel, including RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and other nursing team members.
- Develop and manage nursing staff schedules to support appropriate coverage for all shifts and census levels.
- Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and professional development opportunities for nursing team members.
- Conduct staff meetings, in-service education, competency reviews, and performance follow-up as needed.
Clinical Oversight- Ensure accurate assessment, care planning, implementation, and evaluation of resident care in accordance with clinical standards and best practices.
- Monitor clinical practices, outcomes, documentation, medication management, treatments, and nursing interventions.
- Collaborate with physicians, therapy, social services, dietary, pharmacy, and other interdisciplinary team members to support comprehensive resident-centered care.
- Respond promptly and professionally to resident, family, and staff concerns, complaints, or clinical issues.
Compliance & Quality Assurance- Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including CMS, state health department, OSHA, and other applicable requirements.
- Oversee infection prevention and control activities, surveillance, education, monitoring, and corrective action processes.
- Lead preparation for surveys, audits, inspections, plans of correction, and follow-up activities.
- Monitor quality indicators, incident reports, audits, documentation trends, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Assist with working a medication cart, administering medications, and performing other floor nurse responsibilities as needed.
Administrative Responsibilities- Participate in budget development and manage nursing department expenses, staffing, overtime, and agency utilization responsibly.
- Develop, implement, and update nursing policies, procedures, protocols, and clinical standards.
- Ensure proper orientation, ongoing education, and competency validation for nursing staff.
- Provide regular updates to the Administrator regarding nursing operations, staffing, clinical outcomes, quality initiatives, and areas of concern.
- Participate in facility leadership meetings, strategic planning activities, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) programs, and other committees as assigned.
Qualifications- Regular and reliable attendance is required to perform the essential functions of this position.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification preferred.
- Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of employment required.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred; Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field preferred.
- Minimum of three to five years of nursing leadership experience in skilled nursing, long-term care, or post-acute care preferred.
- Strong knowledge of CMS regulations, state survey processes, infection prevention practices, quality assurance principles, resident care standards, and long-term care compliance requirements.
- Demonstrated leadership, supervisory, team-building, communication, and conflict-resolution skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound clinical and operational decisions in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
- Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) and clinical documentation systems preferred.
- Must be available to serve on-call as needed and provide clinical leadership, guidance, and support during after-hours, weekends, holidays, and emergency situations.
Physical DemandsThe physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to work in both clinical and office environments within a skilled nursing facility.
- Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, and move throughout the facility for extended periods.
- Ability to lift, push, pull, or assist with moving residents, equipment, or supplies weighing up to 50 pounds, with or without reasonable accommodation.
- Ability to respond to emergencies, clinical situations, staffing needs, and facility priorities as required.
- May be required to work extended hours, evenings, weekends, holidays, or on-call shifts based on facility needs.
- Exposure to healthcare environments, including residents with medical conditions and communicable illnesses, with appropriate safety precautions in place.
Work EnvironmentThe work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- The noise level in the work environment is usually low to moderate.
- Direct or indirect exposure to residents with medical conditions or communicable illnesses.
- Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and adherence to infection control protocols is required.
- Work is performed in a healthcare, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or long-term care environment.
- Requires professionalism, confidentiality, and collaboration with residents, families, physicians, staff, vendors, consultants, and interdisciplinary team members.
- Functions as a key member of the facility leadership team and may be required to respond to urgent clinical, staffing, regulatory, or operational matters.
DisclaimerNothing in this job description restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. Critical features of this job are described under various headings above. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons. The above statements are strictly intended to describe the general nature and level of the work being performed. They are not intended to be construed as a complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of employees in this position.
