A Director of Nursing manages and supervises all nursing staff at a hospital or long term care facility. Manages communications with physicians, manages budgets and expenses, and assists other administrators with managing operations. Monitors staff schedules and the quality of nursing care at the facility. Maintains professional license or certification requirements.
Primarily daytime leadership hours with flexibility and on-call participation
Compensation:
[Insert approved salary range] Position Overview Heritage Pointe Communities is seeking an experienced and highly accountable Director of Nursing (DON) to provide strategic and operational leadership for nursing services at our Fort Wayne senior living community. The Director of Nursing is responsible for resident-centered clinical care, regulatory compliance, nursing workforce performance, quality improvement, infection prevention, staffing, and the overall effectiveness of the nursing department. This individual will work closely with the Executive Director, organizational clinical leadership, physicians, pharmacy, therapy, social services, residents, families, and frontline employees. This is an excellent opportunity for a proven nursing leader who wants to make a measurable impact. Over the past year, Heritage Pointe Communities has strengthened its organizational structure and leadership model. The incoming DON will help translate that direction into consistent clinical practices, stronger employee accountability, improved resident outcomes, and sustainable nursing operations. The organization also benefits from established clinical leadership, including a CNO who has been in place for more than two years. Our mission is to create senior communities of care that inspire the mind, body, and soul. We are committed to excellence through grace, compassion, respect, accountability, and resident-centered service. Key ResponsibilitiesClinical Leadership and Resident Care Direct nursing practice and care-delivery systems throughout the community. Ensure resident assessments, care plans, clinical interventions, medication administration, documentation, and changes in condition are addressed accurately and promptly. Conduct regular clinical rounds and maintain a visible presence throughout the community. Monitor resident outcomes and high-risk clinical indicators, including falls, pressure injuries, infections, weight changes, hospital transfers, behavioral health needs, medication events, and other adverse outcomes. Work with nursing employees and interdisciplinary partners to identify clinical risks and implement corrective action. Promote resident dignity, choice, independence, safety, and quality of life. Collaborate with residents, families, physicians, pharmacy, therapy, social services, and other clinical partners to coordinate care and resolve concerns. Evaluate prospective admissions and changes in resident acuity to determine whether the community can safely and effectively meet each resident's needs. Ensure clinical care remains consistent with professional nursing standards, organizational policies, resident rights, and applicable regulations. Regulatory Compliance and Survey Readiness Maintain nursing services in accordance with federal and Indiana regulatory requirements, licensure standards, resident-rights requirements, and organizational policies. Maintain continuous survey readiness throughout the nursing department. Lead nursing preparation and response during state, federal, or organizational inspections. Assist with the development and implementation of plans of correction. Verify that corrective actions are completed, monitored, and sustained across all shifts. Ensure nursing documentation and clinical records are accurate, complete, timely, and survey-ready. Oversee the identification, escalation, investigation, documentation, and reporting of incidents and other reportable events. Collaborate with the Executive Director and Human Resources when investigating allegations of abuse, neglect, misappropriation, injuries of unknown origin, complaints, or employee-related concerns. Communicate significant clinical, regulatory, or operational risks to the appropriate organizational leaders. Nursing Team Leadership and Development Recruit, interview, select, onboard, and retain qualified nursing employees in partnership with Human Resources. Oversee nursing orientation, employee education, competency validation, coaching, and professional development. Establish clear performance expectations and maintain consistent accountability across all nursing shifts and positions. Address attendance, conduct, performance, clinical competency, and communication concerns promptly and professionally. Develop frontline nurses and future nursing leaders through coaching, delegation, recognition, and succession planning. Promote teamwork, respectful communication, psychological safety, and professional nursing practice. Create an environment where employees feel comfortable raising clinical or operational concerns. Support employee engagement and retention while maintaining clear standards for performance and resident care. Lead through change with consistency, transparency, sound judgment, and follow-through. Staffing and Workforce Management Develop and monitor nursing staffing plans based on resident census, acuity, the community assessment, required competencies, regulatory expectations, and budgeted resources. Oversee nursing schedules and ensure appropriate coverage across all shifts. Respond promptly to call-offs, coverage gaps, changing resident needs, and other staffing challenges. Monitor overtime, agency utilization, employee productivity, vacancies, and nursing labor costs. Balance quality, resident safety, staffing stability, employee well-being, and financial responsibility. Work with Human Resources and community leadership to strengthen recruitment and retention strategies. Ensure appropriate staffing competencies are available to meet the clinical needs of the resident population. Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement Provide nursing leadership for the community's Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement program. Use clinical data, audits, outcome measures, root-cause analysis, and performance-improvement projects to identify and correct problems. Establish measurable nursing goals and monitor progress toward those goals. Analyze trends involving falls, wounds, infections, medication events, rehospitalizations, weight loss, behavioral concerns, and other adverse outcomes. Evaluate whether corrective actions are producing sustainable improvement. Communicate nursing performance results, risks, and improvement priorities to appropriate leaders and committees. Develop systems that prevent recurring clinical and operational problems. Promote evidence-based decision-making and continuous improvement throughout the nursing department. Infection Prevention and Control Partner with the Infection Preventionist, medical leadership, pharmacy, and interdisciplinary team to maintain an effective infection-prevention program. Support infection surveillance, outbreak investigation, employee and resident education, and required reporting. Ensure nursing employees consistently follow infection-control standards and use required personal protective equipment. Support antibiotic stewardship and appropriate communication with providers and pharmacy. Monitor infection trends and ensure identified concerns receive timely corrective action. Budget and Operational Oversight Develop and manage nursing operating and capital budgets in partnership with community leadership. Monitor nursing labor, overtime, agency utilization, supplies, equipment, ancillary charges, and other clinical resources. Identify operational or financial variances and take appropriate action. Maintain effective nursing policies, procedures, clinical records, supply systems, and equipment-management practices. Oversee contracted clinical services and ensure vendors meet organizational and regulatory expectations. Participate in emergency-preparedness planning, drills, and response activities. Support community operations during urgent, unusual, or emergency situations. Resident, Family, and Community Relationships Maintain responsive and transparent relationships with residents and their families. Address questions, complaints, and clinical concerns promptly and professionally. Communicate effectively during sensitive or high-stress situations. Partner with physicians, vendors, regulators, community organizations, and other external stakeholders. Protect resident dignity, confidentiality, privacy, and rights. Serve as a visible member of the community leadership team. Provide clinical expertise during organizational planning and operational decision-making. Required Qualifications Current, unencumbered Registered Nurse license in Indiana or a multistate compact RN license that provides authority to practice in Indiana. Graduate of an accredited nursing program. At least three years of professional nursing experience. Progressive nursing leadership, supervisory, or management experience. Current CPR certification. Working knowledge of resident assessment, care planning, medication management, infection prevention, clinical documentation, and gerontological nursing. Knowledge of regulatory compliance, survey preparation, incident investigation, employee competency, and quality-improvement practices. Proficiency with electronic health records, clinical data, employee scheduling or workforce-management systems, and Microsoft Office. Strong written and verbal communication skills. Ability to support a 24-hour healthcare operation and respond during urgent or emergency situations. Preferred Qualifications Previous Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Nursing experience. Long-term care, skilled nursing, assisted living, rehabilitation, or senior living experience. Experience leading state or federal survey preparation and response. Experience developing and monitoring plans of correction. Knowledge of QAPI, root-cause analysis, clinical auditing, and performance-improvement projects. Experience managing nursing staffing, employee retention, overtime, and agency utilization. Experience overseeing a nursing budget and controlling labor-related expenses. Infection-prevention, outbreak-management, or antibiotic-stewardship experience. Demonstrated success improving clinical outcomes, nursing operations, employee performance, or survey results. Experience leading a nursing department through organizational change, restructuring, or operational improvement. Successful Candidates Will Demonstrate A resident-first approach to clinical and operational decisions. Strong leadership, organization, delegation, and time-management abilities. The confidence to address performance, staffing, and clinical concerns directly. The judgment to make sound decisions during high-stress or sensitive situations. The ability to analyze clinical and operational data and translate findings into action. Strong conflict-resolution, teaching, coaching, and change-management skills. Consistency, follow-through, ethical judgment, and personal accountability. The ability to build trust while maintaining clear expectations. Respectful and professional communication with residents, families, employees, physicians, regulators, and executive leaders. A visible, hands-on leadership style rather than a strictly office-based approach. Schedule and Availability This is a full-time, exempt nursing leadership position supporting a 24-hour senior living operation. The position will primarily work during normal leadership hours but requires flexibility based on resident and operational needs. The Director of Nursing may occasionally be required to work evenings, nights, weekends, holidays, or beyond the regular schedule. Participation in an on-call rotation or consultation coverage is required as assigned. The DON must be able to respond appropriately during urgent or emergency situations. Physical and Working Requirements Regularly move throughout the community and resident-care areas. Frequently communicate, observe, read, write, and use computers and clinical systems. Regularly alternate between sitting, standing, and walking. Occasionally bend, stoop, reach, climb stairs, push or pull equipment, and lift or carry up to 25 pounds. May provide assistance during an emergency within the individual's training, licensure, and safe-lifting practices. Work in office and resident-care environments where exposure to interruptions, noise, odors, infectious agents, bodily fluids, chemicals, and other healthcare hazards may occur. Follow required infection-control procedures and use appropriate personal protective equipment. Occasional local or organizational travel may be required. Why Join Heritage Pointe Communities? This position offers an experienced nursing leader the opportunity to shape clinical practice, develop employees, strengthen resident care, and make a visible impact across an entire senior living community. The incoming Director of Nursing will join an organization that values grace, compassion, respect, ethical leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement. If you are an experienced RN leader who understands long-term care, takes ownership of results, and knows how to build a stable and accountable nursing team, we encourage you to apply.
Pay:
$88,000.00 - $110,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Dental insurance Health insurance Vision insurance
