Director of Nursing Services

Vernon Health • Viroqua, WI

6d • Onsite

About The Position

Lead Nursing Excellence in a Critical Access Hospital Setting We are seeking an experienced and strategic Director of Nursing Services (DON) to provide operational leadership for nursing and patient care services. Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer, this leadership role is responsible for ensuring exceptional patient care, regulatory compliance, workforce performance, quality outcomes, and operational excellence across assigned clinical departments. The Director of Nursing Services plays a critical role in translating organizational goals, nursing standards, and regulatory requirements into effective daily operations while fostering a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Wisconsin.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive nursing leadership experience.
• At least 3 years of leadership responsibility across multiple departments or service lines.
• Strong knowledge of hospital operations, workforce planning, quality improvement, patient flow, budgeting, regulatory compliance, and physician collaboration.

Nice To Haves

• Master’s degree in Nursing (MSN), Healthcare Administration (MHA), or Business Administration (MBA).
• Experience in a Rural Hospital or Critical Access Hospital environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations for assigned nursing and patient care services.
• Ensure compliance with nursing practice standards, healthcare regulations, accreditation requirements, and organizational policies.
• Monitor and improve patient safety, clinical quality, patient experience, and workforce performance metrics.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, productivity, recruitment, retention, employee engagement, and professional development.
• Partner with physicians, department leaders, quality, infection prevention, pharmacy, risk management, and other stakeholders to support excellent patient outcomes.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets, resource allocation, and cost-effective operations.
• Drive policy development, implementation, and regulatory readiness initiatives.
• Lead performance improvement efforts and corrective action plans for identified operational or clinical gaps.
• Represent nursing services within the organization and professional healthcare communities.
• Support organizational committees, strategic initiatives, and nursing excellence programs.

Benefits

• This is an exceptional opportunity for a nursing leader who is passionate about improving patient outcomes, supporting clinical teams, and driving operational excellence. You will work alongside executive leadership to shape the future of nursing services while making a meaningful impact on patients, providers, and the community.

What This Job Offers

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