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Job Title: Director of Nursing (DON) – Senior Living
Department: Nursing
Reports To: Facility Administrator/CEO
FLSA Status: Exempt
Job Summary
The Director of Nursing (DON) provides strategic, administrative, and clinical leadership for the nursing department within a senior living community. This role oversees planning, organizing, directing, staffing, and evaluating nursing services to ensure high-quality resident care aligned with regulatory standards and organizational objectives. The DON also serves as the acting facility leader in the Administrator’s absence.
Qualifications – Required
- Current, active state licensure as a Registered Nurse (RN) in good standing
- Minimum 2 years of RN Supervisor experience, including at least 1 year in long-term care
- CPR certification
- Excellent interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills
- Ability to communicate effectively with residents, families, staff, visitors, and regulatory agencies
- Strong organizational, leadership, and delegation abilities
Qualifications – Preferred
- Previous experience as DON or Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON)
- Active participation in professional nursing organizations
- Prior experience in senior living or skilled nursing leadership roles
Cognitive / Mental Requirements
- Ability to make independent decisions and exercise sound judgment
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
- Ability to plan, implement, evaluate, and delegate tasks effectively
- Skilled at prioritizing multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment
Level of Supervision
- Direct Supervision: Nurse management team and assigned staff
- Indirect Supervision: RNs, LPNs, CNAs/NARs, and other assigned personnel
Essential Job Functions / Departmental Expectations
1. Clinical Leadership
- Provide administrative and clinical oversight to ensure delivery of high-quality resident care
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of nursing standards and best practices
- Develop, revise, and implement nursing policies and procedures
2. Financial Management
- Plan, monitor, and manage the nursing department budget
- Ensure appropriate resource utilization and cost-effective operations
- Adjust staffing levels based on census, acuity, and staffing patterns
- Review and approve timecards
3. Staffing & Workforce Management
- Lead recruitment, hiring, and onboarding of nursing personnel
- Conduct staff performance evaluations, coaching, counseling, and terminations as needed
- Ensure adequate staffing to meet resident needs and regulatory standards
4. Staff Development
- Partner with Staff Development to ensure training programs meet regulatory and clinical requirements
- Support ongoing education and competency validation for nursing staff
5. Quality Improvement
- Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement
- Develop, implement, and evaluate the nursing department’s quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) programs
- Oversee resident, family, and staff satisfaction initiatives
- Monitor safety, risk management, and strategic planning activities
6. Regulatory Compliance
- Develop and maintain policies and procedures supporting compliance with state/federal regulations
- Stay updated on regulatory changes and ensure timely implementation
- Prepare for and participate in surveys, audits, and inspections
7. Liaison Responsibilities
- Serve as the primary nursing liaison among residents/families, physicians, interdisciplinary departments, and external partners
- Represent the facility professionally within the community, health system, and public forums
Benefits:
- Healthcare package including dental, vision, Disability, and Life
- 401K
- Generous salary
- Bonus opportunity
At Goodwin Recruiting, we are committed to our core values and providing world class customer service. We are committed to helping our clients navigate and comply with the complex and ever-changing labor laws as well as help ensure that in every hiring decision, internally and with our client partners, that all viable candidates are considered, and the most qualified candidate is offered the role. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We value all people, understanding that uniqueness and diversity foster a stronger team that is innovative and brings varying perspectives to the table. We put our money where our mouth is and are proud of our efforts to identify a broad slate of candidates, with many hiring success stories to share.
JOB ID: 168420
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Angela Dupont