Clinical Program Director; RN): Cardio-Pulmonary Program

North Crest Specialty Care, a 94-bed long-term care skilled nursing community located in Waterloo, IA, is now hiring!

Clinical Program Director (RN):
Cardio-Pulmonary Program
Shifts Available:
Full-Time

Are you a passionate clinical leader with expertise in cardiac and pulmonary care? Join Care Initiatives as our Clinical Program Director (RN) and play a pivotal role in advancing specialized cardio-pulmonary services within our skilled nursing center.

In this leadership position, you will serve as the clinical expert and primary point of contact for our Cardio-Pulmonary Program, helping ensure exceptional resident outcomes, supporting staff development, strengthening referral relationships, and driving program growth. You will work closely with physicians, hospitals, residents, families, and interdisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, resident-centered care while supporting smooth transitions across the continuum of care.

This role is ideal for a clinically strong nurse leader who thrives as an educator, relationship builder, and program champion while supporting an environment of clinical excellence, teamwork, and continuous improvement for residents with complex cardiac and pulmonary needs.

• Serve as the clinical leader and subject matter expert for the Cardio-Pulmonary Program.
• Support nursing staff in identifying and responding to changes in residents' cardiac and respiratory status.
• Participate in clinical rounds and resident reviews to optimize care plans and outcomes.
• Collaborate with physicians, specialists, and interdisciplinary team members to ensure evidence-based care.
• Monitor program outcomes and provide recommendations to improve resident care and clinical performance.

• Develop and deliver cardio-pulmonary education programs for nursing and interdisciplinary staff.
• Lead onboarding and specialty orientation for team members assigned to the program.
• Conduct competency validation, skills assessments, and ongoing education initiatives.
• Utilize coaching, mentorship, case studies, and simulation-based learning to strengthen clinical expertise.
• Identify knowledge gaps and implement targeted development plans.

• Educate residents and families regarding cardiac and pulmonary conditions, treatment plans, medications, oxygen therapy, and disease management.
• Support care planning discussions and reinforce self-management strategies.
• Prepare residents and families for successful transitions home or to other levels of care.

• Support hospital-to-skilled nursing facility transitions and discharge planning activities.
• Collaborate with providers, home health agencies, specialists, and community resources to promote continuity of care.
• Assist with complex discharges and identify barriers that may impact safe transitions.
• Promote reduction of avoidable hospitalizations and readmissions.

• Serve as a clinical ambassador for the Cardio-Pulmonary Program.
• Build and maintain relationships with hospitals, physicians, case managers, discharge planners, and referral partners.
• Participate in admission reviews and provide clinical recommendations regarding resident appropriateness for the program.
• Communicate program capabilities and outcomes to referral sources and healthcare partners.

• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) initiatives.
• Analyze trends related to hospital transfers, readmissions, clinical outcomes, and resident experience.
• Recommend and implement performance improvement strategies.
• Support ongoing development, expansion, and promotion of the Cardio-Pulmonary…