Director of Nursing Senior Living

Job Title:

Director of Nursing (DON) – Senior Living

Department: Nursing

Reports To: Facility Administrator/CEO

FLSA Status: Exempt

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Direct Supervision: Nurse management team and assigned staff
• Indirect Supervision: RNs, LPNs, CNAs/NARs, and other assigned personnel

• 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

• 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

• 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

• Partner with Staff Development to ensure training programs meet regulatory and clinical requirements
• Support ongoing education and competency validation for nursing staff

• 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

• 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

• 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