Director of Nursing (DON)

VitalCore Health Strategies • Ellsworth, KS

12d • $120,000 - $124,000 • Onsite

About The Position

VitalCore Health Strategies is hiring a Registered Nurse as Director of Nursing at Ellsworth Correctional Facility in Ellsworth, Kansas. This supervisory nursing role operates in a correctional setting where nursing services are required 24 hours a day. The Director of Nursing supervises and coordinates nursing personnel, ensures patient needs are met, evaluates nursing care and unit performance, helps plan work for assigned units, and coordinates with other patient care units and departments. The position plans staff training and partners with the Health Services Administrator and Regional Leadership to meet contractual requirements and operational and clinical performance targets.

The Director of Nursing provides clinical oversight and supervision, supports safe and effective patient care, evaluates care-delivery processes, uses data to identify and monitor performance improvement, and helps ensure compliance with contract requirements, accreditation standards, and regulatory requirements. The role also oversees recruitment participation, staff development, competency assessments, orientation, scheduling, meetings, nursing records, and participation in clinical quality, safety, pharmacy, utilization management, and other improvement initiatives. This position is full-time, 40 hours per week.

Requirements

• Must be a Registered Nurse.
• Graduate of an accredited nursing school.
• Licensed to practice nursing in the state.
• Board-certified or board-eligible in medicine, as stated in the posting.
• Training and experience providing services to an adult population.
• At least 3 years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor's or master's degree in nursing preferred.
• Correctional healthcare experience preferred.
• Specialty certification in correctional healthcare desired, such as CCHP or CCHP-RN.
• Previous clinical operations management experience preferred.
• Previous direct management experience in a correctional health setting desired.
• Knowledge of NCCHC, ACA, and state-specific accreditation standards preferred.
• Experience with quality improvement programs and clinical auditing preferred.

Responsibilities

• Use a systematic approach to meet each patient's health needs.
• Provide quality oversight with site, regional, and corporate leadership; clinically supervise nursing staff; establish work structures and processes to meet patient-care goals and contract and policy requirements; support nursing staff; and organize safe, effective, and efficient care.
• Regularly evaluate patient-care delivery, provide written reports to regional teams and clients as scheduled or requested, use data to identify improvement opportunities, take action, and monitor progress.
• Facilitate development and tracking of site performance improvement plans and contribute to key performance indicators and Clinical Quality Initiatives.
• Facilitate random and scheduled audits for contract, accreditation, and QAPI compliance; complete or facilitate QAPI documentation; forward findings to leadership; and serve on the site-level QAPI committee.
• Conduct at least annual accreditation-readiness audits, track ongoing compliance, develop action plans based on findings, and collaborate with site leadership to implement and evaluate those plans.
• Anticipate healthcare-delivery and contractual issues; collaborate with site leadership, clients, and regional leadership; review relevant healthcare meeting minutes; and reinforce client satisfaction goals.
• Screen candidates, communicate recruitment standards, support recruitment effectiveness and compliance, participate in selection for site openings, and identify staff with development and succession potential.
• Conduct at-hire and annual clinical competency assessments; hold monthly one-on-one meetings with direct reports; provide mentoring, feedback, and coaching; and develop performance improvement plans when appropriate.
• Coordinate orientation and onboarding, assess staff learning needs, and facilitate in-service and continuing education for nursing and ancillary personnel.
• Interpret regulations and standards, communicate performance objectives, guide staff on licensure and regulatory requirements, and ensure required licensure and credentialing are current and nursing practice complies with applicable requirements.
• Develop monthly nursing and support-staff schedules to ensure adequate staffing and skill coverage on each shift; monitor staffing needs and make recommendations to site and regional leadership.
• Conduct monthly staff meetings in collaboration with site leadership and assist with annual operational and clinical performance plans under regional operational management.
• Liaise with other operating units, agencies, and outside officials, and ensure nursing records are maintained correctly.
• Participate in pharmacy, therapeutic, strategic, patient safety/sentinel event, performance improvement, EMR, utilization management, and other assigned committees or initiatives.
• Support company initiatives and clinical best practices, assist with special projects, help prioritize resource support, and participate in monthly Regional DON calls and activities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Holiday pay for New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Identity theft protection.
• Animal/pet insurance.
• Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center.
• 401K.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed