Responsibilities The Clinical Director is responsible and accountable for the delivery of safe, effective, direct and indirect, patient-family centered care on the medical/surgical unit (s). The Clinical Director is responsible for initiating, guiding, and directing the coordination of services provided by the designated nursing unit(s).The Clinical Director functions as a resource person for staff members and provides necessary education & training, assists the Clinical Coordinators with competency validation and performance reviews of individual members of the nursing staff, assumes responsibility for the overall quality of nursing care provided by specified units, makes decisions regarding patient care activities in area of responsibility. The Clinical Director is responsible for the oversight of the departmental budget and management of staff. Qualifications MINIMUM EDUCATION: Graduate of an accredited nursing program. Bachelor Degree preferred or equivalent experience, education and training. MINIMUM WORK EXPERIENCE: Minimum of 5 years clinical nursing experience in an Acute Care setting required; 2 years in Medical Surgical preferred. Minimum of 2 years nursing management or leadership experience required. REQUIRED LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS: Current licensure in Texas as a Registered Nurse. Basic Life Support Certification through the American Heart Association REQUIRED SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE, AND ABILITIES: Excellent interpersonal skills; analytical skills, computer skills, and basic finance knowledge. Must have a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of Medical Surgical environment, demonstrated leadership abilities, financial competence, and sound management abilities. Good command of the English language, both verbal and written. Ability to work well with physicians, employees, patients and others. Ability to resolve complex issues through utilization of appropriate communication techniques. High energy, outgoing, and self-starter. ABOUT OAKBEND: OakBend Medical Center is an independent hospital providing exceptional and compassionate care to patients and the community since 1950. The OakBend family consists of outstanding team members caring for the community at three hospitals and many specialty centers. OakBend’s services and programs include its signature No Wait ER, an advanced trauma center, certified stroke program, hospital air ambulance services and a hospital-based skilled nursing facility. We remain committed to providing a rewarding environment to our team members, to providing necessary services to the community and to developing the best methods to care for our patients, ensuring a healthy future for generations.
The director of nursing (DON) — sometimes called the executive director of nursing or the director of nursing operations — supervises the entire nursing department of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other healthcare facility. This top-level administrative role comes with many responsibilities that will vary depending on the facility, but can include overseeing all nursing professionals and operations, acting as a liaison between nursing staff and other departments, reviewing policies and procedures, managing expenses, and more.
IntelyCare can help you find DON jobs and assistant director of nursing (ADON) jobs that fulfill your career goals. You can also have a look at similar roles such as CNO jobs and nurse manager jobs. Get started today.
Education and Certifications for a DON Job
To qualify for director of nursing positions, it’s expected that you will have worked as a nurse for a number of years in addition to holding nurse leader roles. Employers may prefer a candidate that has an advanced degree — either a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
To stand out in the applicant pool, you may want to pursue credentials such as:
Certified director of nursing (CDONA)
Director of nursing services certification (DNS-CT)
Resume and Cover Letter for Director or Nursing Positions
Make sure to tailor each resume and cover letter to a specific DON job ad. For instance, if a hospital is looking to hire a DON to “plan and execute all activities related to staffing, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, and continuing education initiatives” and you have relevant experience, include the phrase on your resume, and expound on your successes in that area on your cover letter.
Need help with your application materials? Our sample director of nursing resume and cover letter offer clear guidelines on the content and formatting that employers may be hoping to see.
Interviewing for DON Jobs
In this and other executive healthcare roles, you’re expected to have exceptional people skills. Demonstrate your communication know-how during the job interview by taking ample time to prepare in advance. Review common director of nursing interview questions and craft your answers with both nurses and patients in mind. Be sure your words and demeanor reflect the values and mission of the facility at which you are interviewing.
Director of Nursing Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track salary data for a director of nursing job. However, the role can be considered a type of medical and health services manager, whose annual average salary is $134,440. Base salaries can be influenced by your years of experience, education and certifications, employer, and location. To see what director of nursing jobs’ salary expectations are in your area, click on some of the current jobs on IntelyCare.
Explore Director of Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare
Take a look at all the open director of nursing positions and assistant director of nursing positions available right now. Want additional options? Learn how IntelyCare can match you with even more nursing jobs that interest you.
