VP Patient Care Services and CNO-28196

Location: Chicago, Illinois

About the role

The Vice President of Patient Care Services & CNO serves as the Chief Nursing Officer and is a member of the executive team. The position actively participates in strategic planning, policy development, and goal setting for the organization, with administrative authority for nursing practice throughout the organization, including inpatient and ambulatory settings. This individual ensures nursing practice meets organizational goals and complies with Federal and State laws, regulations, and licensing requirements. The role is responsible for high-quality, patient-safe, team-oriented, and cost-effective patient care operations. This position also serves as the system leader over the professional nursing practice structure for the organization.

Primary customers include patients and their families, the Board of Trustees, medical staff, community businesses, nurses, and all hospital team members. This role includes oversight of subsidiary corporation activities.

Reports to: Senior Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, Rush University Medical Center & Rush Oak Park Hospital (for the CNO role).
Dotted line reporting: Senior Vice Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer, Rush University System for Health & Rush University Medical Center (for nursing practice and the professional nursing practice structure).

Responsibilities

• Patient/Family/Customer First
  • Treats others with courtesy, respect, and caring touch in all interactions.
  • Identifies, fulfills, and exceeds customer needs, prioritizing those needs.
  • Promotes patient rights, safety, confidentiality, and privacy.
  • Recognizes, respects, and communicates effectively with all individuals.
• Promotes Teamwork and Partnerships
  • Treats each employee as an equal and valued team member; works cooperatively with others.
  • Flexes to meet changing workload demands and priorities.
  • Promotes a positive work environment and resolves problems to improve teamwork and patient satisfaction.
  • Upholds Rush Oak Park Hospital (ROPH) Employee Behavior Standards and Code of Conduct.
• Quality and Patient Safety
  • Follows National Patient Safety Goals and proactively reports near misses.
  • Supports a Just Culture by reporting errors and identifying improvement opportunities.
  • Participates collaboratively in making improvements.
• Strategic Leadership
  • Aligns the vision, values, and strategic plan for nursing services with the organizational strategic plan.
  • Assesses and improves customer satisfaction, including patient experience and staff satisfaction.
  • Actively participates in hospital strategic planning for continuous growth.
  • Engages in decision-making with the governing body, management, medical staff, and clinical leaders.
  • Initiates, supports, or evaluates nursing research.
  • Retains accountability for nursing departments not directly reporting to the CNO.
  • Confer with other VPs on nursing practice matters and workforce supply/demand issues.
  • Develops departmental goals compatible with institutional objectives and submits operational and capital budgets for patient care services.
• Inspirational Leadership
  • Integrates patient services across the continuum (inpatient, outpatient, home health, community wellness).
  • Oversees nursing practice throughout the organization and represents nursing to other departments.
  • Leads the development of business, financial, and program strategies aligned with organizational goals.
  • Represents the hospital to the community, external agencies, and other health professionals.
  • Educates the public about the hospital’s role, goals, and accomplishments.
• Operational Leadership
  • Accountable for nursing performance indicators and works to improve outcomes (e.g., financials, case management, human resources, productivity, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance).
  • Leads and supports evidence-based practice to ensure all nursing care is evidence-based.
  • Ensures compliance with regulatory agencies (The Joint Commission, IDPH, OSHA, etc.).
  • Maintains quality control programs for continuous improvement.
  • Ensures immediate availability of registered nurses for bedside care.
  • Plans, implements, and improves the patient care process and staffing.
  • Defines and maintains standards of patient care/nursing practice and improves them through outcome analysis.
  • Responsible for appropriate staffing, competency, and data collection of patient outcomes.
  • Approves and recommends policies and procedures governing nursing practice and patient services.
  • Leads preparation for regulatory audits and evaluations.
  • Participates in policy-making for patient and visitor rights.
  • Ensures adequate resources for quality services.
  • Participates in budget planning and implements approved budgets with accountability for department performance.
• People Leadership
  • Provides professional development for nurses and nursing leaders through orientation, leadership programs, precepting, and resourcing.
  • Coordinates and leads initiatives for patient care staff development and education.
  • Ensures proper selection and orientation of quality team members.
  • Participates in credentialing, privileging, and evaluating advanced practice registered nurses and allied health professionals.
  • Promotes high performance, cultural competency, and team development.
  • Provides ongoing coaching and mentoring to direct reports.
• Functional Leadership
  • Promotes staff participation in community programs and volunteers to enhance hospital awareness.
  • Establishes, monitors, and supports standards of nursing practice.
  • Maintains active membership and leadership in a professional nursing organization.
  • Attends conferences, seminars, and workshops for career development and learning.
  • Promotes mentoring and education through collegial relationships, presentations, and readings.
• Cultural Leadership
  • Serves as a role model and promotes Rush Oak Park values and the Nursing Professional Practice Model/Care Model.
• Professional Nursing Practice
  • Leads systemwide Professional Nursing Practice and Magnet readiness, including documentation and gap closure.
  • Ensures system alignment and governance integration with CNOs and executives.
  • Directs Transition to Practice programs (residency, fellowship, preceptor/mentor development).
  • Champions professional development, including certification, advancement pathways, and recognition programs.
  • Provides leadership for nursing informatics and technology, guiding EHR optimization and clinical decision support.
  • Leads Clinical Nurse Specialists, including role alignment and competency expectations.
  • Applies knowledge of EBP and implementation science principles to translate research into clinical care.

Requirements

• License: Current Illinois Registered Nurse licensure required.
• Education: Earned nursing degree at the baccalaureate level or higher required. Graduate degree required; earned doctorate preferred.
• Certification: National certification required. National board certification in executive leadership preferred.
• Special Skills: Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Experience: At least 8 years of progressive experience in Nursing Management and hospital operations. Demonstrated leadership skills in planning, organizing, problem-solving, decision-making, and delegation.

Patient Population Served

Infants, children, young adults, adults, and geriatric patients and their families who enter the facility or any satellite for care or services.

Benefits

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits. For more details, visit the Rush benefits page. This role includes a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors.

Pay

Pay Range: $225,000 - $275,000 per year. Rush salaries are determined by factors including education, job-related experience, skills, and internal equity. Offers may vary depending on individual circumstances.

Schedule

Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0).