Director of Nursing Inpatient Medical

Job Description

The Director of Nursing Inpatient Medical is accountable for enterprise-aligned nursing strategy, multi-department operational performance, clinical outcomes, and nursing workforce readiness within an acute care hospital. This role leads through nurse leaders, directs performance improvement, ensures compliance with regulatory and internal standards, and strengthens patient experience and safety across assigned departments.

Strategy, Execution, and Enterprise Alignment

• Translate enterprise nursing strategy into departmental goals, action plans, and measurable outcomes for assigned departments.
• Lead planning and execution of nursing priorities that improve quality, safety, patient experience, and operational reliability.
• Ensure departmental practices align with evidence-based standards, clinical pathways, and organizational policies.

Clinical Quality, Patient Safety, and Risk Management

• Establish and monitor performance indicators for safety, quality, infection prevention, falls, medication safety, sepsis/rapid response readiness, and other priority outcomes.
• Lead root-cause analysis, corrective action planning, and sustained improvement strategies for sentinel events, high-risk trends, and recurring safety issues.
• Ensure consistent implementation of escalation pathways, interdisciplinary rounding expectations, and clinical documentation standards.

Operational Leadership Across Multiple Departments

• Ensure consistent and reliable nursing workflow, care delivery processes, and care transitions within assigned areas.
• Oversee preparedness for regulatory surveys, audits, and internal assessments related to nursing practice and patient safety.
• Partner with hospital operations and clinical service lines to reduce barriers to timely, safe care (including throughput support where applicable).

Workforce Planning, Competency, and Readiness

• Direct workforce and resource planning in partnership with HR and staffing leadership to support safe staffing practices and continuity of care.
• Ensure leadership coverage, scheduling effectiveness, and escalation processes are in place.
• Ensure competencies and training plans are current, department-specific, and sustained through onboarding and annual competency systems.
• Support credentialing/privileging processes and ensure compliance with training and required onboarding elements.

Leadership Development and Accountability

• Provide leadership coaching, performance oversight, and clear expectations for direct reports (e.g., Nurse Managers/Clinical Managers and/or Assistant Nurse Managers).
• Conduct leadership performance reviews, support succession planning, and drive retention-focused leadership practices.
• Hold nursing leaders accountable for results, standard work, and evidence of sustained improvement.

Patient Experience and Culture of Care

• Ensure patient experience priorities are integrated into clinical operations and reinforced through rounding, communication standards, and service recovery processes.
• Monitor patient experience trends and drive action plans with assigned leaders.
• Promote a culture of professionalism, respect, and collaboration across nursing and interdisciplinary teams.

Communication and Governance

• Participate in enterprise and service line leadership forums, provide updates on departmental performance, risks, and improvement progress.
• Maintain timely communication with the CNO/leadership team and relevant cross-functional partners.
• Ensure consistent messaging and leadership presence across assigned departments.

Minimum Qualifications

• BSN required; Master's degree preferred.
• Experience: Experience leading multi-department performance improvement, regulatory readiness, and workforce transformation in an acute care hospital setting. Demonstrated acute care nursing leadership experience with measurable impact on quality, safety, and operational performance.
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Expert knowledge of acute care nursing operations, clinical standards, and safety/quality frameworks. Ability to lead performance improvement with measurable outcomes and sustainable change. Proven leadership skill in coaching, holding leaders accountable, and developing nurse managers/clinical managers. Strong understanding of compliance requirements and regulatory survey readiness processes. Advanced communication and collaboration skills with interdisciplinary teams. Ability to manage complex staffing and operational challenges while maintaining clinical excellence.
• Licenses/Certificates: RN Licensure in South Carolina or Compact Licensure Agreement. Board certification required within the first year of employment (board certification in the applicable specialty field). AHA BLS Certification.

Additional Job Description

Up to $25,000 Student Loan Repayment for those RNs that qualify State Health Benefits and State Pension Plan Up to 6 weeks Paid Parental Leave PTO and Sick Time (ESL) Accruals Free Telehealth Visits for Care Team Member and family Onsite Pharmacy Education Assistance

Benefit Highlights

• State Health Benefits and State Pension Plan
• Up to 6 weeks Paid Parental Leave
• PTO and Sick Time (ESL) Accruals
• Free Telehealth Visits for Care Team Member and family
• Onsite Pharmacy
• Education Assistance