Director of Nursing

Peaceful Pines Senior Living - Milbank•Milbank, SD

About The Position

The Director of Nursing (DON) provides clinical leadership, oversight, and cultural stewardship for nursing services in Assisted Living and Memory Care. The DON ensures care is compassionate, ethical, safe, high quality, and aligned with residents’ preferences, individuality, and evolving needs. The role promotes whole-person well-being, purposeful living, and a supportive community where residents feel respected and connected and team members feel valued and accountable. The DON oversees nursing services, assessments, individualized service plans, medication management, clinical monitoring, memory care practices, and compliance with applicable standards and regulations. The position also oversees the wellness budget and collaborates with leadership on health and wellness marketing initiatives. Working collaboratively with Life Enrichment, Culinary Services, Operations, executive leadership, families, providers, and community partners, the DON supports engaging daily experiences, resident participation, dining and nutritional needs, and strong family communication. The DON leads and develops nursing and care teams, supports staffing and resource planning, maintains survey readiness, manages risk and quality improvement, and contributes to community reputation, census growth, and quality outcomes.

Requirements

Must submit to a TB test in accordance with state regulations.
Must be able to pass a background check.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience in a nursing leadership role within an Assisted Living community.
Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) or Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) license.
Minimum of two (2) years’ experience as an RN in a healthcare facility.
Experience supporting memory care residents is strongly preferred.
Person-centered and whole-person care leadership.
Ability to integrate clinical excellence with hospitality and engagement.
Ethical judgment and integrity.
Strong communication, emotional intelligence, and team development skills.
Commitment to a mission-driven culture and resident experience.

Responsibilities

Oversee nursing services to ensure safe, ethical, high-quality care aligned with resident preferences, life stories, and evolving needs.
Direct comprehensive assessments, individualized service plans, medication management, and ongoing clinical monitoring.
Integrate physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being into care planning and delivery.
Support memory care practices that preserve dignity, reduce distress, and promote meaningful engagement.
Ensure clinical practices comply with current standards of care, regulatory requirements, and organizational values.
Implement evidence-based practices and innovative approaches to dementia care and aging services.
Honor residents’ individuality, choices, and voice in clinical decisions and provide relational, respectful care.
Oversee the wellness budget and allocate resources effectively; collaborate with leadership on marketing health and wellness services.
Partner with Life Enrichment, Culinary Services, and Operations to support a vibrant, purpose-driven community culture.
Model and require nursing team engagement in meaningful daily experiences, activities, social connection, routines, and dining.
Champion dining as part of wellness, dignity, and enjoyment, including attention to nutritional needs and resident preferences.
Lead, coach, and inspire nursing and care team members through visible presence, support, and accountability.
Foster collaboration, trust, compassion, continuous improvement, staff engagement, retention, and professional growth.
Ensure team members are trained and competent in person-centered care, memory support, and hospitality-focused service.
Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local Assisted Living and Memory Care regulations and maintain survey and inspection readiness.
Lead corrective actions, oversee infection prevention, incident reporting, quality assurance, documentation, and policy compliance.
Monitor quality metrics, incident reports, and risk trends to drive improvement.
Serve as a clinical liaison for residents, families, providers, and community partners; participate in care conferences and address concerns.
Build trust through transparent communication and collaborative problem-solving with families and partners.
Collaborate with executive and community leadership to align nursing operations with organizational goals.
Participate in staffing, scheduling, budgeting, and resource planning.
Support community reputation, census growth, and quality outcomes through clinical excellence.
Champion innovation and best practices to elevate resident experience and care delivery.