Chief Nursing Officer Aurora Medical Center Grafton

Advocate Health • Grafton, ND

12d • $115 - $184

About The Position

The Chief Nursing Officer leads the development and execution of nursing strategic and operational plans, including quality, teammate engagement, care experience, financial, and growth strategies aligned with enterprise goals. The role maintains safety, risk, and compliance standards across care levels and develops nursing plans, staffing, and workflows aligned with organizational strategies.

The CNO is accountable for planning, developing, and managing operating and capital budgets for nursing and other assigned areas. The position advances innovative, evidence-based care delivery models; monitors clinical quality performance with key stakeholders; and leads improvement initiatives. It fosters clinical excellence, structural empowerment, shared governance, professional practice, research, and innovation, while supporting Magnet and Pathways principles and designation efforts as applicable.

The role advances the nursing profession through professional development, succession planning, coaching, and evaluation of nursing leaders. It ensures resources and learning environments support continuous development and competency-based practice, uses healthcare technology and nursing information systems to improve care and outcomes, advocates for workforce well-being and community health, and ensures compliance with applicable laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and professional practice requirements.

This is a full-time position with a normal Monday–Friday schedule and an expectation of flexibility to establish visibility on off shifts and weekends. Some evening commitments for business and community purposes are required. Travel is required. The position is primarily office-based, with clinical environment exposure as needed, and involves operating standard office and clinical equipment.

Requirements

• Master’s degree in nursing or a healthcare-related field (MSN, MBA, MHA, or similar); an MSN is required if the undergraduate degree is not a BSN.
• Active RN multi-state compact and/or single-site license with privileges to practice in the state(s) where nursing services are provided.
• Nationally recognized nursing leadership or specialty certification.
• Typically, 10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, including senior management experience and accountability for staff, budgets, and outcomes.
• Significant experience overseeing nursing operations and quality in a complex healthcare environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in nursing operations, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and professional practice standards.
• Strong strategic planning, enterprise thinking, and change leadership capabilities.
• Proven ability to lead large, complex teams and influence across matrixed organizations.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships with executives, physicians, interdisciplinary teams, and external partners.
• Travel is required.
• Ability to operate standard office and clinical equipment.

Nice To Haves

• Doctorate (DNP or PhD).

Responsibilities

• Lead development and execution of nursing strategic and operational plans aligned with enterprise goals.
• Maintain safety, risk, and compliance standards at all care levels, including departmental requirements and action plans.
• Develop and implement nursing plans, staffing, and workflows aligned with organizational strategies.
• Plan, develop, and manage operating and capital budgets for nursing and other assigned areas.
• Lead development and adoption of innovative care delivery models that balance quality, safety, cost, resource utilization, and workforce sustainability.
• Collaborate with stakeholders to monitor clinical quality targets and lead evidence-based improvement initiatives.
• Foster clinical excellence, structural empowerment, two-way communication, shared governance, and nurse participation in professional practice decisions, evidence-based practice, research, and innovation.
• Support and advance Magnet and Pathways principles and designation efforts, as applicable.
• Advance professional development and leadership succession planning; develop, coach, and evaluate nursing leaders.
• Ensure time, resources, and learning environments support continuous professional development and competency-based practice.
• Leverage healthcare technology and nursing information systems to improve care delivery, documentation accuracy, efficiency, quality improvement, and patient outcomes.
• Advocate for workforce well-being, community health, and community engagement.
• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local laws, regulations, accreditation standards, and professional practice requirements related to nursing services.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off programs.
• Medical, dental, vision, life, and short- and long-term disability benefits.
• Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible healthcare and dependent-care expenses.
• Adoption assistance and paid parental leave.
• Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs.
• Educational Assistance Program.
• Competitive compensation, premium pay where applicable, incentive pay for select positions, and opportunity for annual performance-based increases.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Executive