Salary: $104,832.00 - $107,972.00 Annually
Location : Health Care Center 1051 Clark St. Reedsburg, WI 53959
Job Type: Exempt
Job Number: 2113
Department: Health Care Center
Opening Date: 08/03/2026
Closing Date: 8/24/2026 11:59 PM Central
FLSA: Exempt
Bargaining Unit: 006

Description
As a key member of the interdisciplinary leadership team, the DON fosters a culture of clinical excellence, manages nursing budgets, and mentors staff to improve resident outcomes.

The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for the overall management, leadership, and quality of the nursing department at the Sauk County Health Care Center. The primary goal is to ensure the delivery of high-quality resident care while maintaining compliance with federal, state, and local regulations.

Essential Duties

• Interview, train, direct, advise, evaluate, coach and discipline nursing personnel, and approve payroll. This includes but is not limited to coordinating ongoing in-service training and competency assessments for clinical staff.

• Develop and update nursing policies and procedures to meet state and federal regulations. Coordinate nursing policies and procedures with other departments.
• Oversee the development and implementation of comprehensive, person-centered care plans for all residents. Monitor care quality consulting with nursing staff regarding resident's condition and nursing staff concerns to ensure residents' needs are met.
• Develop nursing long-term goals and plans facilitating and leading nursing performance improvement plan.
• Develop unit annual budget and recommend equipment purchases. Manage the nursing department budget, including medical supplies and labor costs.
• Review admissions to determine level or care required, approve new admissions, contact referring agency for assessment, assist social services in determining room assignments/transfers, and determine Medicare status.
• Develop and implement infection control policies and procedures, prepare infection control audits, and oversees compliance with infection control program when Assistant Director of Nursing is not present available.
• Coordinate restraint and drug reduction for all residents; review quarterly reviews and minirisk assessments for developing resident problems.
• Participate in State and Federal nursing home surveys, recommend and implement deficiencies making sure the facility is always prepared for state and federal surveys in accordance with federal and state regulations; lead the clinical response during inspections/audits.
• Must be prepared to report to the facility in person during emergencies, staffing crises, infection control procedures, infection outbreaks, or significant clinical incidents. Must be reachable by phone during evenings, weekends, and holidays to provide clinical guidance.
• Act as resident advocate and represent the nursing staff to the community.
• Attend, participate, and/or conduct Facility and County committee meetings regarding nursing administration and care.
• Serve as a key liaison between staff, physicians, state surveyors, residents, and families.
• And other duties as assigned.

Required Working Hours

Standard working hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 am until 4:30 pm. Please note these hours are subject to change and additional hours may be needed or required. Compensation for additional hours beyond normal working hours are subject to applicable state and federal regulations.

Minimum Training and Education
Required:

Associate's degree in Nursing

7 years of nursing experience, with at least three years being in a supervisory role
Licenses/Certifications:

Registered Nursing (RN) License
Valid Wisconsin State Motor Vehicle Operator's License
Preferred:

Bachelor's degree in Nursing

Nursing experience with the geriatric population
Any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities may be considered.
Become a part of the Sauk County team!

Sauk County offers an exceptional, comprehensive benefits package including health and life insurance, eleven paid holidays, and a generous pension plan through the Wisconsin Retirement System (WRS). Additional voluntary life, supplemental, dental, vision, accident, and short-term disability plans are available as well as deferred compensation. Further benefits include vacation and sick leave accrual and a wellness program.

Have Student Loans? Work for Sauk County and get assistance! Working for a government entity gets you a spot on the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program. The PSLF Program forgives the remaining balance on your Direct Loans after you have made 120 qualifying monthly payments under a qualifying repayment plan while working full-time for a qualifying employer.
Our work-life benefits are designed to enhance your life and the communities we serve.