Director of Nursing

California Pain•San Diego, CA

40d•Onsite

About The Position

The Director of Nursing (DON) is responsible for the overall clinical leadership, quality, and regulatory compliance of nursing and perioperative services at the California Pain Comprehensive ASC in Rancho Bernardo. The DON ensures safe, efficient, and patient-centered care across pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-anesthesia phases in accordance with California Title 22 ambulatory surgery center regulations, CMS Conditions for Coverage, AAAHC/applicable accreditation standards, and California Pain Consultants (CPC) policy. This role partners closely with the Facility Administrator, Medical Director, and COO to drive clinical excellence, staff development, and operational performance.

Requirements

Current, unrestricted California Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing.
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
Minimum 5 years of perioperative/ASC or OR nursing experience, with at least 2 years in a nursing leadership or management role.
Current BLS required; ACLS and PALS required or obtained within 90 days of hire.
Working knowledge of Title 22 ASC licensing requirements, CMS Conditions for Coverage, and accreditation standards (AAAHC, IMQ, or The Joint Commission).
Demonstrated experience with infection control programs, QAPI, and regulatory survey readiness.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills; ability to lead a multidisciplinary clinical team.
Proficiency with electronic health record and ASC practice management systems.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree (MSN, MHA, or related) preferred.
CNOR (Certified Perioperative Nurse) certification preferred.
Prior experience leading or actively participating in state licensing surveys and accreditation surveys (e.g., CDPH, AAAHC, IMQ, The Joint Commission) preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide direct clinical leadership and 24/7 accountability for nursing practice throughout the ASC, including pre-op, OR, and PACU/recovery.
Serve as a resource and hands-on leader for complex cases, emergent situations, and escalations requiring RN-level clinical judgment.
Develop, implement, and maintain nursing policies and procedures consistent with Title 22, CMS Conditions for Coverage, and accreditation standards; lead ongoing readiness for state and accreditation surveys.
Chair or co-lead the facility's Quality Assurance/Performance Improvement (QAPI) program, including data collection, root cause analysis, infection control surveillance, and corrective action plans.
Own the facility infection prevention program, including sterile processing oversight, environmental cleaning standards, and OSHA/CDC/AORN compliance.
Recruit, hire, onboard, schedule, and evaluate nursing and clinical support staff; manage performance, competency validation, and disciplinary action in partnership with HR.
Ensure all clinical staff maintain current licensure, BLS/ACLS/PALS as applicable, and complete mandatory annual competencies and in-services.
Oversee medication procurement, storage, administration, and controlled substance accountability in accordance with California Board of Registered Nursing and DEA requirements.
Maintain and test the facility's emergency preparedness plan, malignant hyperthermia protocol, and crash cart/emergency equipment readiness.
Coordinate nursing staffing levels and OR scheduling with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and the Administrator to support case volume and turnover efficiency.
Participate in capital and supply budget planning for nursing and clinical departments; monitor supply utilization and cost control without compromising patient safety.
Track and trend adverse events, infections, falls, and patient complaints; report findings to the Governing Body and Medical Director as required.
Serve as a liaison between nursing staff, physicians, anesthesia providers, and administration to promote a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement.