Director of Nursing

Director of Nursing – Vital Core Health Strategies

Join the Vital Core Team in Massachusetts! Vital Core Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Healthcare, has an opening for a Director of Nursing at Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center in Lancaster, MA.

• Holiday Pay (New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day)
• Medical Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Life Insurance
• Short Term Disability
• Long Term Disability
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Employee Assistance Program & Discount Center
• 401(k) & Plan Matching
• Paid Time Off (PTO)
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Annual Incentive Bonus

The Director of Nursing (DON) is a supervisory nursing position in a correctional setting that provides nursing services on a 24-hour basis. The DON supervises and coordinates nursing personnel activities, ensures patient needs are met, evaluates nursing care and unit performance, plans work, coordinates with related departments, and partners with the Assistant Director of Nursing, Health Services Administrator, and Regional Leadership to achieve contractual and operational goals.

• Graduate of an accredited nursing school (Bachelor’s or master’s preferred).
• Licensed to practice nursing in the state.
• Board-certified or board-eligible in medicine with experience serving an adult population.
• Specialty certification in correctional healthcare desired (CCHP or CCHP‑RN).
• Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience, preferably within a correctional health setting.
• Previous experience in clinical operations management preferred.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards (NCCHC, ACA, state-specific) and quality improvement programs.

• Utilize a systematic approach to meet each patient’s health needs.
• Provide quality oversight and clinical supervision to nursing staff.
• Implement work structures to meet contract requirements and healthcare policies.
• Support nursing staff in patient care delivery and efficient service.
• Evaluate and report on patient care processes using data for continuous improvement.
• Facilitate site performance improvement plans and monitor progress.
• Conduct audits for compliance with contractual, accreditation, and QAPI standards.
• Develop and execute accreditation readiness and action plans.
• Anticipate and address healthcare delivery challenges proactively.
• Lead recruitment, interviewing, and hiring processes to meet staffing objectives.
• Perform competency assessments and ongoing staff development activities.
• Coordinate orientation, onboarding, and continuing education for staff.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, accreditation, and regulatory requirements.
• Develop and maintain nursing staff schedules aligned with unit needs.
• Participate in pharmacy, therapeutic, and strategic initiatives, patient safety committees, and other organizational improvement groups.
• Assist in special projects and allocate resources by prioritization.
• Execute any other duties as assigned.

Vital Core Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.