Director of Nursing Practice, Quality, & Research

SEH Saint Elizabeth Medical Center•Fort Thomas, KY

About The Position

The Director of Nursing Practice, Quality, & Research provides leadership to advance nursing excellence through evidence-based practice (EBP), nursing research, clinical inquiry, and professional practice standards throughout the organization. The role fosters innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement in support of high-quality patient care and optimal nursing outcomes. It ensures nursing practice standards are implemented, evaluated, and improved consistently across the system, and aligns nursing policies, procedures, and documentation with professional, regulatory, and accreditation standards. In partnership with the Magnet Program Director and nursing and interprofessional leaders, the Director integrates Magnet principles into daily practice by strengthening shared governance, evidence-based decision-making, nursing research, quality improvement, and nursing excellence. The position leads the organization’s nursing EBP and research infrastructure, supports research governance and IRB-related work, and provides consultation, mentorship, education, and resources for nurses and leaders. It also oversees nursing research programs and councils, evaluates nursing-sensitive outcomes, supports Magnet recognition activities, and advises leadership on performance and improvement strategies. The role collaborates with clinical educators, nurse managers, academic partners, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams; leads or supports councils, committees, task forces, and staff-led projects; and communicates through consultation, coaching, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement. The Director maintains current knowledge of Magnet standards, regulatory requirements, healthcare trends, and evidence-based practices, and performs other duties as assigned. This is a regular position with 40 scheduled hours.

Requirements

Doctorate in Nursing (DNP or PhD) or a related healthcare field; if the doctorate is in a non-nursing field, a master’s degree in nursing is required.
Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state where the work is performed.
Expert knowledge of professional nursing practice standards, EBP, nursing research, quality improvement, patient safety, and nursing-sensitive outcomes.
Strong understanding of ANCC Magnet Recognition Program standards, professional practice frameworks, shared governance, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements.
Knowledge of research methodologies, literature appraisal, data interpretation, IRB processes, and ethical research conduct.
Ability to lead organizational change, facilitate practice standardization, manage complex projects, and drive system-wide performance improvement initiatives.
Ability to analyze, interpret, and communicate clinical, quality, and research data to diverse audiences.
Excellent verbal, written, presentation, interpersonal, and collaboration skills, including the ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and large workgroups.
Proficiency in mentoring nurses and leaders in EBP, quality improvement, shared governance, nursing research, and dissemination activities.
At least five years of progressive clinical nursing experience.
At least three years of leadership experience in nursing practice, nursing quality, nursing research, professional practice, or a related area.
Demonstrated experience leading EBP, quality improvement, nursing research, professional practice, or system-wide performance improvement initiatives.
Experience using quality metrics, nursing-sensitive indicators, and outcome data to guide improvements in practice and patient outcomes.
Experience working within a complex healthcare system and collaborating with operational and clinical leaders across departments or facilities.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership for professional nursing practice across the organization and establish, implement, and evaluate nursing practice standards.
Oversee review, development, revision, and maintenance of nursing clinical policies, procedures, and standards of practice.
Collaborate with nursing and patient care services, quality, patient safety, accreditation, and operational leaders to promote practice consistency and regulatory compliance.
Standardize nursing care processes and documentation to improve patient outcomes and operational effectiveness.
Develop, implement, and sustain the nursing evidence-based practice and research infrastructure and foster inquiry, innovation, and integration of evidence into clinical and operational decisions.
Provide consultation, mentorship, education, and resources to nurses and leaders conducting EBP, quality improvement, and nursing research projects.
Oversee the SEH Nursing Research Fellowship Program, Nursing Research Council, Nursing Inquiry Day, and related research and EBP initiatives.
Advise nursing research governance structures and serve as an Institutional Review Board liaison or member, as appropriate.
Review nursing research proposals and support compliance with IRB requirements, ethical standards, and regulatory guidelines.
Integrate nursing research, EBP, and quality improvement to advance clinical practice, patient outcomes, and Magnet-level policies and standards.
Design, implement, and evaluate strategies to promote effective, efficient, and innovative patient care through nursing evidence and research.
Facilitate dissemination and translation of EBP and research findings through publications, presentations, posters, professional forums, and other scholarly activities.
Oversee and support nursing shared governance structures and councils; strengthen professional accountability, engagement, and decision-making.
Promote nurse participation in practice improvement, EBP, research, and innovation, and evaluate and improve shared governance processes.
Lead evaluation and improvement of nursing-sensitive quality indicators and empirical outcomes, using benchmarking data to guide improvement.
Collaborate with quality, patient safety, accreditation, and operational leaders to identify trends, implement improvement strategies, and enhance compliance with clinical practice and documentation standards.
Provide leadership with reports and recommendations regarding outcome performance.
Integrate Magnet principles, professional practice standards, and nursing excellence initiatives throughout the organization and support readiness for Magnet designation, redesignation, and other nursing excellence programs.
Collect, analyze, evaluate, and disseminate evidence related to professional practice goals, nursing research, and EBP; contribute to Magnet narratives, exemplars, and supporting documentation.
Partner with the Magnet Program Director, including participation in Magnet Recognition Program activities and the Magnet writing team.
Consult with and mentor nurses, leaders, students, and interdisciplinary partners on professional growth, clinical inquiry, leadership development, and evidence-informed practice.
Collaborate with clinical educators, nurse managers, academic partners, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams to identify professional practice needs and support approved initiatives.
Guide associates conducting nursing or interdisciplinary studies on IRB processes, ethical considerations, and responsible research conduct.
Lead and support multidisciplinary teams, councils, committees, task forces, and staff-led projects when consultation is needed to advance professional practice and organizational priorities.
Maintain collaborative relationships with internal and external partners, evaluate program effectiveness, remove barriers, and support desired outcomes.
Communicate through consultation, coaching, reports, presentations, and stakeholder engagement to influence change and adoption of evidence-informed practices.
Maintain and expand professional knowledge through education, reading, professional organizations, training, and independent learning; write articles for publication and stay current with Magnet standards, regulations, healthcare trends, and evidence-based practices.
Perform other duties as assigned.