RWJBarnabas Health

Nursing Director

RWJBarnabas Health$125K — $150K *
Hospitals & Medical Centers
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) required
  • Master's Degree in Nursing or Healthcare Administration required
  • Current Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • Minimum of 5 years progressive nursing leadership experience
  • Previous leadership experience in an acute care Medical-Surgical environment preferred
  • Experience with regulatory compliance and quality improvement initiatives
  • Preferred certifications in nursing management and quality improvement (e.g., ANCC Nurse Executive Certification, Lean Six Sigma)

Responsibilities

  • Lead Medical-Surgical nursing operations to ensure high-quality patient care.
  • Promote and implement evidence-based nursing practices.
  • Oversee compliance with healthcare regulations and quality standards.
  • Develop action plans based on quality metrics to enhance patient outcomes.
  • Manage daily departmental operations, including staffing and resource allocation.
  • Direct strategic goals aligning with organizational objectives.
  • Cultivate an environment of accountability and continuous professional growth for staff.

Benefits

  • Professional growth and development opportunities
  • Support for continuing education and certification
  • Collaborative work environment focused on nursing excellence
  • Access to leadership and mentorship programs
  • Engagement in industry-leading patient care initiatives
Full Job Description
Are you a transformational nursing leader passionate about clinical excellence, patient safety, staff engagement, and professional nursing practice? We are seeking an experienced Director of Medical-Surgical Nursing to lead our Medical-Surgical services and advance our commitment to exceptional patient care, quality outcomes, and nursing excellence.

This leader will inspire teams, foster a culture of accountability and collaboration, and drive strategic initiatives that support organizational goals and Pathway to Excellence® principles.

Position Summary

The Director of Medical-Surgical Nursing provides strategic, operational, and clinical leadership for the Medical-Surgical service line. This position is responsible for overseeing daily operations, quality and patient safety initiatives, regulatory compliance, financial stewardship, workforce development, and employee engagement while ensuring exceptional patient outcomes.

The Director collaborates with interdisciplinary leaders to achieve organizational goals through evidence-based practice, innovation, and continuous performance improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership

  • Provide leadership for Medical-Surgical nursing operations.
  • Promote evidence-based nursing practice and clinical excellence.
  • Ensure safe, high-quality patient care and regulatory compliance.
  • Monitor quality metrics and develop action plans to improve outcomes.
  • Lead initiatives focused on patient safety, infection prevention, fall reduction, pressure injury prevention, and medication safety.

Operational Leadership

  • Direct daily operations of the Medical-Surgical departments.
  • Manage staffing, scheduling, productivity, and resource utilization.
  • Collaborate with nursing leaders to ensure safe staffing practices.
  • Develop and implement strategic departmental goals aligned with organizational priorities.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

  • Ensure compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, state and federal regulations.
  • Lead readiness efforts for accreditation and regulatory surveys.
  • Utilize data to improve quality outcomes and patient experience.

Financial Management

  • Develop and manage departmental operating and capital budgets.
  • Monitor labor productivity and expense management.
  • Identify opportunities for cost savings while maintaining quality patient care.

Leadership & Professional Development

  • Recruit, mentor, coach, and retain nursing leaders and staff.
  • Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
  • Support succession planning and leadership development.
  • Promote specialty certification and continuing education.

Patient Experience

  • Lead initiatives to improve patient satisfaction and engagement.
  • Address service recovery opportunities and promote patient-centered care.


Qualifications

Education

  • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) required
  • Master's Degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field required
  • DNP or PhD preferred

Licensure

  • Current Registered Nurse (RN) license
  • BLS certification required

Experience

  • Minimum of 5 years progressive nursing leadership experience.
  • Previous Director or Manager experience in an acute care Medical-Surgical environment preferred.
  • Demonstrated experience leading quality improvement initiatives and regulatory readiness.
  • Experience with budgeting, staffing, workforce planning, and performance improvement.

Preferred Certifications

  • ANCC Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC or NEA-BC)
  • Medical-Surgical Nursing Certification (MEDSURG-BC)
  • Lean Six Sigma or Quality Improvement certification preferred

Ideal Candidate

We are looking for a leader who demonstrates:
  • Exceptional leadership and communication skills
  • Strong critical thinking and decision-making abilities
  • Strategic and systems thinking
  • Commitment to nursing excellence and evidence-based practice
  • Ability to build highly engaged teams
  • Passion for mentoring future nursing leaders
  • Experience leading organizational change

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest integrated healthcare delivery system in New Jersey, with hospitals, ambulatory care centers, and clinics throughout the state. The system includes eleven acute care hospitals, three children's hospitals, a pediatric rehabilitation hospital, a behavioral health center, and numerous other clinical facilities. RWJBarnabas Health is committed to providing high-quality, compassionate care to patients and their families, and to advancing medical research and education.
Learn more about RWJBarnabas Health
Size
35,000 employees
Industry

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