Associate Chief Nursing Officer

Sturdy Memorial Hospital•Attleboro, MA

5d•$196,993 - $313,150•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) is a key leader and strategic partner to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), accountable for driving clinical excellence, operational performance, workforce stability, and the overall patient and family experience. The ACNO holds responsibility for inpatient nursing operations and hospital throughput, including capacity management, bed placement, and staffing strategy, and designated clinical and ancillary support services. This role is accountable for translating organizational and nursing strategies into measurable operational outcomes, ensuring consistent performance, alignment, and accountability across inpatient services. The ACNO serves as a key operational leader responsible for optimizing patient flow, enhancing workforce effectiveness, and advancing quality, safety, and patient experience outcomes. This leader demonstrates strong business acumen, data-driven decision-making, and the ability to lead complex initiatives across a dynamic healthcare environment. The ACNO promotes a culture aligned with the American Nurses Association (ANA) Code of Ethics, Nursing Scope, and Standards of Practice, and the AONL Nurse Leader Core Competency Model, fostering a professional practice environment grounded in collaboration, accountability, and excellence.

Requirements

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing
Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field
Current Massachusetts RN licensure
Minimum of 10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience
Minimum of 5 years of Director-level (or equivalent senior leadership) experience in acute care
Demonstrated experience in inpatient operations, throughput, capacity management, and staffing strategy
Experience leading interdisciplinary teams and overseeing clinical support services
Strong data analytics, financial acumen, and performance management expertise
Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills
Ability to lead change, manage complexity, and drive organizational results

Nice To Haves

Advanced certification in nursing leadership (e.g., NEA-BC, NE-BC, or equivalent)

Responsibilities

Serves as a strategic partner to the CNO in the development and execution of organizational and nursing priorities
Represents the CNO in organizational, medical staff, and operational leadership forums
Provides leadership continuity and decision-making support in the absence of the CNO
Translates system strategy into operational execution across inpatient services
Holds enterprise accountability for inpatient operations, patient flow, throughput, and capacity management
Establishes standards and accountability for bed placement, patient assignment, and patient progression processes
Leads hospital-wide initiatives to eliminate delays, optimize throughput, and maximize capacity utilization
Drives performance improvement in key metrics, including length of stay, discharge efficiency, and patient access
Oversees interdisciplinary coordination to ensure seamless patient movement across the continuum of care
Accountable for enterprise inpatient staffing strategy, including staffing models, resource deployment, and skill mix alignment
Leads workforce stabilization initiatives focused on retention, engagement, and staffing sustainability
Drives reduction in contract labor and optimization of workforce productivity and efficiency
Establishes clear expectations and accountability for staffing aligned with acuity and operational demand
Advances leadership development and succession planning to ensure a strong pipeline of nursing leaders
Provides oversight for inpatient nursing operations and designated clinical and ancillary support services, including Pharmacy, Respiratory Therapy, and other assigned departments
Ensures alignment, integration, and performance of clinical and ancillary services to support organizational goals
Establishes accountability for operational, quality, and service outcomes across these areas
Promotes coordinated, efficient, and high-quality care delivery across disciplines
Leads interdisciplinary collaboration to improve operational effectiveness, care standardization, and patient outcomes
Holds accountability for quality, patient safety, and patient experience outcomes across inpatient nursing and designated ancillary services
Owns enterprise performance metrics, ensuring transparency, monitoring, and execution of improvement plans
Drives system-wide performance improvement initiatives and ensures consistent follow-through
Ensures regulatory compliance and continuous survey readiness across inpatient services
Advances nursing excellence through professional governance, evidence-based practice, and Magnet readiness
Strong partnership with clinical practice and professional development leaders to align education, competency, and standards
Promotes innovation, engagement, and continuous advancement of nursing practice
Aligns professional practice outcomes with quality, safety, and patient experience results
Partners with physicians, case management, finance, and operational leaders to improve outcomes and patient experience
Strengthens coordination across inpatient, outpatient, and community-based services
Leads initiatives to improve transitions of care, access, and continuity
Recruits, develops, and retains high-performing nursing and clinical leaders across inpatient and ancillary services
Provides coaching, performance oversight, and succession planning
Promotes a culture of accountability, engagement, and high performance
Builds leadership alignment and organizational capability
Accountable for labor management, cost of care, and resource utilization across inpatient and designated ancillary services
Drives operational efficiency aligned with organizational quality, access, and financial goals
Ensures responsible stewardship of organizational resources while maintaining safety and care standards
Consistently treats patients, colleagues and visitors with dignity and respect, while being sensitive to the differing needs of all age groups, backgrounds, characteristics, and cultures.
Must have the ability to perform essential functions of the position, including required work hours, locations, and physical demands, without posing a direct threat to the health and safety of themselves or other individuals in the workplace, and without reasonable accommodation.