Director Post Acute Services

About the role

The Director-Post Acute Services oversees and leads the nursing staff within the Post-Acute Services department, including Inpatient Rehabilitation Nursing, Geriatric Psychiatry (Geri-Psych) Nursing, and Swing Bed Nursing. This role ensures high-quality, patient-centered nursing care while promoting operational efficiency, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, fostering team collaboration, and supporting professional development for nursing staff in these specialized areas.

Responsibilities

• Lead, supervise, and mentor the nursing teams across Inpatient Rehabilitation, Geri-Psych, and Swing Bed units, ensuring exceptional patient care delivery.
• Develop and implement evidence-based nursing practices to support patient care goals and ensure optimal recovery for post-acute patients.
• Promote an interdisciplinary approach to care by working closely with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers.
• Create a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement among nursing staff.
• Oversee the delivery of high-quality, compassionate nursing care tailored to the needs of post-acute patients, including inpatient rehabilitation therapy, psychiatric care, and medical management.
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate nursing practices in post-acute care units to ensure safety, quality, and patient satisfaction.
• Ensure that nursing staff provides appropriate assessments, interventions, and ongoing evaluations for patients in rehab, geri-psych, and swing bed settings.
• Review and resolve any clinical issues or patient concerns related to nursing care delivery.
• Manage daily nursing operations in the rehabilitation, geri-psych, and swing bed units to ensure optimal staffing, patient flow, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership to ensure adequate staffing levels and safe patient care environments, factoring in census, acuity, and staff competencies.
• Oversee nursing documentation and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
• Implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and enhance the quality of nursing care in the post-acute services.
• Lead recruitment, hiring, retention, and training efforts for nursing staff within post-acute services.
• Design and implement ongoing education, orientation, and competency assessments for nursing staff to maintain high standards of care in rehabilitation, geri-psych, and swing bed settings.
• Promote career development through mentorship, continuing education, and nursing certifications, particularly those specific to post-acute care (e.g., rehabilitation nursing or psychiatric nursing certifications).
• Facilitate regular staff meetings, in-services, and team-building activities to foster engagement and professional growth.
• Ensure the program provides services in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations and meets Medicare/Medicaid conditions of participation.
• Lead and participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, nursing practices, and service delivery.
• Monitor and evaluate nursing performance, patient satisfaction scores, and incident reports to identify areas for improvement.
• Address and resolve patient safety issues, incidents, and concerns related to nursing care in the post-acute care setting.
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, therapists, and other healthcare providers to ensure integrated, patient-centered care.
• Ensure effective communication between nursing staff, leadership, and patients/families regarding care plans, concerns, and updates.
• Participate in hospital-wide committees, meetings, and initiatives related to nursing practice and patient care.

Requirements

• Strong leadership, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
• Expertise in managing nursing staff, operations, and patient care processes in specialized post-acute services
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements, quality metrics, and nursing best practices in post-acute settings
• Ability to manage budgets, staffing, and resources to meet patient care needs effectively
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking during daily operations
• Occasional travel may be required for training, meetings, or conferences

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution (required)
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field (preferred)
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice
• CPR and BLS certification (required)
• Advanced certifications such as Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) or Psychiatric Nursing Certification (PMHN) are preferred
• Advanced certifications in post-acute care or nursing leadership are preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of nursing experience in a hospital setting, with at least 2 years of progressive leadership experience, including direct oversight of nursing services in post-acute care settings such as rehab, geri-psych, or swing beds
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving quality improvements in patient care
• Minimum of two years of psych experience