Director RN, Emergency Department, Valencia County Hospital

Valencia County Hospital is seeking a Director of the Emergency Department to lead our new hospital currently under construction in Los Lunas, NM. Owned by Valencia County and operated through a joint venture between Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) and Lovelace Health System, this startup represents a vital investment in rural healthcare and a unique opportunity to build clinical excellence from the ground up.

Reporting to the CNO, the Director of the Emergency Department organizes, plans, and administers the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Room at Valencia County Hospital. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and timely emergency clinical services within established productivity and budget standards. The Director manages departmental personnel, capital and operating budgets, regulatory compliance, and serves as a visionary leader to develop and grow the service line.

This position acts as a vital liaison between the Emergency Department, administration, physicians, EMS agencies, patients, families, and the local community. Major Responsibilities Clinical & Departmental Operations:
Oversee day-to-day emergency services, ensure safe evidence-based care, optimize patient flow and triage, coordinate with ancillary departments, and conduct clinical rounding. Financial Management & Budgeting:
Develop and monitor operating, personnel, and capital budgets, control labor and overtime costs, and collaborate with leadership on major expenditures. Leadership & Staff Management:
Direct departmental operations, foster a culture of safety and accountability, lead nursing staff, and complete performance evaluations. Quality & Performance Improvement:
Lead quality initiatives, track key performance indicators (such as door-to-provider time, LWBS, and length of stay), and implement corrective action and PI projects. Regulatory Compliance:
Maintain ongoing readiness and ensure full compliance with CMS, CIHQ, EMTALA, OSHA, HIPAA, and state health regulations. Staffing & Human Resources:
Manage recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee relations, retention, and succession planning. Education & Professional Development:
Validate annual competencies, coordinate continuing education, and support specialty certifications and residency programs. Patient

Experience:

Promote compassionate, patient-centered care and address patient and family concerns. Emergency Preparedness:
Participate in disaster planning, mass casualty preparedness, and lead emergency drills. Provider & Community Relations:
Build strong relationships with emergency physicians and mid-level providers, monitor physician satisfaction, and represent the department in the community. Requirements Education And Experience Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.

Graduate from an accredited school of nursing is required. Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), Healthcare Administration (MHA), or a related field is preferred. Minimum of 5 years of progressive clinical management/leadership experience at the Clinical or Director level managing a clinical or emergency unit is required.

Certifications:

Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New Mexico. Advanced clinical certifications specific to emergency nursing (e.g., CEN, TNCC, ACLS, PALS) are highly preferred. Knowledge Emergency nursing clinical practices and specialty trauma/emergency training. Critical Access Hospital (CAH) regulations and CMS conditions of participation. Healthcare budgeting, productivity metrics, and capital expenditure analysis. National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), Core Measures, and Emergency Department metrics (e.g., left without being seen, door-to-provider times).

State and federal regulations…