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Job Description Summary:

Job Description:

The Director of Nursing provides leadership and strategic oversight for assigned departments ensuring excellence in patient care delivery around the clock. This role is accountable for driving performance in key areas including fiscal stewardship staff development optimal resources utilization and patient experience. With a steadfast commitment to quality and safety the Director of Nursing fosters a culture of collaboration innovation and continuous improvement to achieve the highest standards of patient-centered care.

Essential Functions:

• Strategic Leadership & Goal Alignment

Leads the formulation and execution of strategic goals for assigned departments ensuring alignment with the broader mission vision and operational priorities of the healthcare system. Translates organizational objectives into actionable departmental plans fostering integration accountability and measurable progress across all areas of responsibility.

• Oversight of Nursing Practice

Designs directs and oversees nursing practice for delivery of services to patients and families ensuring alignment with evidence-based standards regulatory requirements and organizational goals. Leads the development and implementation of clinical protocols fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and promotes a culture of safety quality and patient-centered care.

• Personnel Leadership & Performance Management

Provides strategic leadership and oversight for all personnel actions across departments within scope of responsibility including recruitment hiring onboarding performance management and staff development. Champions a culture of accountability and excellence by guiding nursing leaders through coaching evaluation and when necessary corrective action.

• Budget & Resource Stewardship

Collaborates closely with the Finance department in the development and stewardship of annual operating budgets for areas within scope of responsibility. Regularly monitors and evaluates budget performance identifying variances and implementing corrective strategies as needed. Ensures that supply inventories are proactively managed and adequately maintained to support seamless high-quality and uninterrupted patient care delivery.

• Staffing & Productivity Optimization

Develops and maintains strategic base staffing patterns for each department within scope of responsibility ensuring the consistent availability of qualified nursing professionals to meet dynamic patient care needs. Balances clinical demands with operational efficiency by aligning staffing plans with productivity benchmarks regulatory standards and quality care objectives.

• Shared Governance & Staff Engagement

Champions the development and sustainability of a shared governance structure that empowers nursing staff to actively participate in decision-making processes. Fosters a collaborative environment by ensuring staff engagement in departmental and organizational nursing councils promoting professional ownership accountability and alignment with strategic priorities.

• Evidence-Based Practice & Innovation

Cultivates a spirit of inquiry by actively engaging in evidence-based nursing practice and integrating current research methodologies to enhance the quality safety and effectiveness of patient care. Encourages a culture of clinical curiosity and continuous improvement empowering staff to question practice explore innovations and apply findings that elevate care delivery across the organization.

• Culture & Service Excellence

Actively promotes and embodies the culture values and mission of UofL Health by leading initiatives and programs that elevate service excellence. Serves as a visible ambassador of organizational commitment fostering an environment where compassionate care integrity and high-quality outcomes are consistently prioritized and celebrated.

• Supervision & Accountability

Provides proactive leadership and direct supervision to assigned staff ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality work across all areas of responsibility. Establishes clear expectations fosters accountability and supports a culture of excellence through regular performance feedback coaching and recognition.

• Internal & External Collaboration

Serves as a trusted resource and subject matter expert within assigned areas of responsibility offering guidance and insight to support clinical and operational excellence. Builds and sustains strong collaborative relationships with medical staff departmental leaders employees and community partners.

• Community Engagement

Serves as a visible ambassador of the organization by actively participating in community outreach initiatives health education programs and public events. Demonstrates a commitment to community well-being by supporting hospital-sponsored activities and fostering strong relationships that promote trust engagement and access to quality care.

• Administrative Leadership On-Call

Fulfills administrative leadership responsibilities by serving as Administrator on Call (AOC) as needed providing executive-level oversight and decision-making support during evenings weekends and holidays. Ensures continuity of operations timely resolution of urgent matters and consistent adherence to organizational standards and patient care priorities.

Other Functions:

• Participates in training development and continuing education activities to improve role functioning. Responsible for knowing and demonstrating National Patient Safety standards. Participates in department-based activities and initiatives to improve and ensure a safe environment.
• Participates in performance improvement activities; quality improvement and patient safety activities; assists in maintaining compliance with Joint Commission accreditation and other internal and external regulatory standards including the code of conduct

• Communicates effectively with members of the health care team patients and families often under stress or emergency situations.
• Assists other members of the nursing care team and/or other disciplines.
• Maintains compliance with all company policies procedures and standards of conduct
• Complies with HIPAA privacy and security requirements to maintain confidentiality at all times.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Additional Job Description:

Education:

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Required).
• Masters Degree in Nursing Administration Education or other Leadership field from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Preferred).

• If Masters Degree in other discipline outside of Nursing then Bachelor Degree in Nursing from an accredited/approved school of nursing.
• Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Preferred).

Experience:

• A minimum of four (4) years related professional experience including two (2) years in a leadership level in a matrix management organization. (Required) A portfolio of increasing responsibility will be considered in lieu of traditional management history.

• Proven ability to direct and/or facilitate the work effort of peers and subordinates through teamwork and team building (Required)

• Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively communicate with physicians hospital staff educational institution representatives and other professionals (Required)

Licensure: Active Kentucky Registered Nurse License or compact license with privileges to work in Kentucky (Required).

Certification:

• Basic Life Support (BLS) accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) (Required)
• National Nursing Certification in Field of Specialty obtained if not held at time of hire (Preferred)