Director of Nursing

Campbell Street•Iowa City, IA

27d

About The Position

Campbell Street is seeking an experienced, driven, and compassionate Director of Nursing to lead its nursing team in Iowa City, Iowa. The Director of Nursing provides overall leadership, management, and clinical oversight of the nursing department to ensure residents receive safe, compassionate, person-centered care in accordance with state and federal regulations, clinical standards, and resident rights. Working closely with the Administrator and Campbell Street's clinical and operational leadership, the DON is responsible for clinical outcomes, regulatory compliance, nursing staff recruitment and retention, staffing effectiveness, employee development, infection prevention, and quality assurance initiatives. The successful candidate will bring extensive long-term care or skilled nursing facility experience, sound clinical judgment, and the ability to assess departmental needs, establish priorities, and implement practical solutions. The role calls for a hands-on leader who takes initiative, addresses challenges directly, and builds a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement. Campbell Street provides a new DON onboarding process, support from clinical, operations, human resources, and talent acquisition teams, and other organizational resources to help the incoming leader establish priorities, strengthen the nursing team, and drive improvements. The organization emphasizes professional development, leadership support, and career growth, guided by its SMART Values: Servant Leadership, Mirror First, Always Do the Right Thing, Resilience, and Transparency.

Requirements

Graduation from an accredited school of nursing.
Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Iowa, in good standing.
Extensive experience in long-term care, a skilled nursing facility, or a comparable post-acute care setting.
Demonstrated clinical leadership experience, including staff supervision, clinical oversight, and nursing operations.
Strong working knowledge of skilled nursing standards of care and applicable state and federal regulations.
Current CPR certification or the ability to obtain and maintain required certification.
Ability to evaluate clinical situations, identify risks, and make sound decisions that prioritize resident safety.
Ability to manage competing priorities, assess departmental needs, and implement effective solutions.
Ability to coach, mentor, motivate, and retain nursing professionals.
Willingness to take ownership, address performance concerns, and follow through on commitments.
Strong interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills.
Ability to build trust, navigate difficult conversations, and work effectively with diverse personalities.
Ability to remain composed, resilient, and solutions-oriented in a fast-paced clinical environment.
Commitment to ethical decision-making, transparency, resident rights, and Campbell Street's SMART Values.

Nice To Haves

Previous experience as a Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, or in another nursing leadership role within a skilled nursing environment.
Experience with survey preparation, regulatory compliance, QAPI, and clinical performance improvement.
Experience improving staffing stability, employee retention, and clinical outcomes.
Experience managing departmental budgets, staffing plans, and operational performance.
Specialized clinical experience in wound care, dementia care, infection prevention, restorative nursing, or complex resident care.

Responsibilities

Oversee daily nursing operations to ensure safe, effective, individualized resident care.
Monitor clinical outcomes, resident assessments, care plans, documentation, and changes in condition to ensure timely and appropriate interventions.
Ensure compliance with applicable federal and Iowa state regulations, licensing requirements, and clinical policies and procedures.
Lead QAPI initiatives to identify opportunities, implement corrective actions, and improve resident outcomes.
Oversee infection prevention and control, medication management, restorative nursing, dementia care, and other applicable clinical programs.
Maintain survey readiness and coordinate responses to deficiencies, including corrective action plans and follow-up monitoring.
Collaborate with physicians, residents, families, and interdisciplinary team members to promote continuity of care and resident satisfaction.
Lead recruitment, hiring, onboarding, training, coaching, and retention efforts for licensed and non-licensed nursing personnel.
Establish clear performance expectations and promote accountability, professionalism, and teamwork.
Monitor staffing levels and resident acuity to maintain appropriate nursing coverage and continuity of care.
Develop strategies to improve employee engagement, reduce turnover, and strengthen staffing stability.
Provide feedback, performance evaluations, and development opportunities for nursing staff.
Identify educational needs and ensure staff maintain appropriate competencies, certifications, and required training.
Provide hands-on clinical leadership and support when needed to maintain care quality and department operations.
Partner with the Administrator and organizational leadership to establish clinical priorities, departmental goals, and measurable performance expectations.
Evaluate department processes and implement improvements that support efficiency, quality, and regulatory compliance.
Oversee nursing department budgets, staffing resources, supplies, and equipment.
Ensure accurate and timely clinical documentation and reporting, and appropriate follow-up on incidents, accidents, medication errors, and changes in resident condition.
Coordinate with other departments and external healthcare providers to support operations and resident care.
Maintain emergency preparedness and ensure nursing personnel understand and follow established emergency procedures.
Demonstrate Campbell Street's SMART Values through daily decisions, communication, and interactions.
Build trust with staff, residents, families, and organizational leadership through consistent follow-through and transparent communication.
Address challenges proactively, make informed decisions, and take ownership of departmental performance.
Foster a supportive culture with clear expectations and resident-centered decision-making.
Use Campbell Street's onboarding resources and organizational partnerships to establish priorities and build a strong foundation for success.

Benefits

Medical insurance.
Dental insurance.
Vision insurance.
Long-term and short-term disability coverage.
Company-paid life insurance, with additional voluntary coverage available.
Accident and critical illness insurance.
Matching 401(k) retirement plan.
Same-day pay.
Generous paid time off (PTO).
Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
Certification reimbursement and professional development opportunities.
Leadership development and succession planning resources.
Annual leadership development summits.
Scholarship opportunities.
Referral bonus opportunities across positions.
Newly implemented DON onboarding process and support from clinical and operational leadership.