Director of Nursing - In Training
About The Position
The Director of Nursing in Training (DONIT) is a leadership development position designed to prepare a licensed Registered Nurse for a future Director of Nursing role. Under the guidance and mentorship of the Director of Nursing and Administrator, the DONIT gains progressive responsibility for clinical operations, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, staff management, and resident care outcomes. The role provides hands-on nursing leadership experience while supporting safe, effective, and resident-centered care. The incumbent partners with nursing leadership on daily operations, resident care, regulatory compliance, quality initiatives, infection prevention, staffing, staff development, and collaboration with residents, families, and interdisciplinary teams. The position includes assigned leadership training and mentoring, with increasing independence in leadership responsibilities. Successful completion of the program may qualify the incumbent for promotion to Assistant Director of Nursing, if applicable, or Director of Nursing.
Requirements
- Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.
- Current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice.
- Valid Adult Basic First Aid and CPR Certification.
- Align with the Organization's mission and values, delivering high-quality, person-centered care with dignity, respect, compassion, and integrity.
- Ability to interact professionally with residents, families, staff, and the public, and handle challenging situations with respect.
- Understanding and adherence to relevant regulations, policies, and procedures.
- Effective team member with strong communication and cooperation skills.
- Ability to organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines.
- Follow instructions, accept feedback, and function well in a dynamic environment.
Nice To Haves
- Previous charge nurse, supervisor, unit manager, assistant director of nursing, or similar leadership experience preferred.
- Experience in long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or post-acute care strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Partner with the Director of Nursing to oversee daily nursing operations.
- Assist in managing resident care services to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.
- Participate in clinical rounds and resident care reviews.
- Monitor resident outcomes and identify opportunities for quality improvement.
- Support infection prevention and control programs.
- Learn and assist with compliance related to federal, state, and local regulations.
- Participate in surveys, audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Assist with developing and implementing plans of correction.
- Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) activities.
- Analyze clinical indicators, quality measures, incident reports, and trends.
- Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and retention of nursing staff.
- Support staff education, training, and competency validation programs.
- Assist in staffing, scheduling, and workforce planning.
- Support implementation of organizational goals and strategic initiatives.
- Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, interdisciplinary team members, residents, and families.
- Participate in care conferences and leadership meetings.
- Maintain effective communication with nursing teams across all shifts.
- Complete assigned leadership training and mentoring activities.
- Demonstrate increasing independence in leadership responsibilities.
- Prepare for transition into a Director of Nursing position.
- Perform other duties as required.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
