Director RN, Emergency Department, Valencia County Hospital

Community Hospital Corporation•Los Lunas, NM

9d•Onsite

About The Position

Valencia County Hospital is seeking a Director of the Emergency Department to lead our new hospital currently under construction in Los Lunas, NM. Owned by Valencia County and operated through a joint venture between Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) and Lovelace Health System, this startup represents a vital investment in rural healthcare and a unique opportunity to build clinical excellence from the ground up. Reporting to the CNO, the Director of the Emergency Department organizes, plans, and administers the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Room at Valencia County Hospital. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and timely emergency clinical services within established productivity and budget standards. The Director manages departmental personnel, capital and operating budgets, regulatory compliance, and serves as a visionary leader to develop and grow the service line. This position acts as a vital liaison between the Emergency Department, administration, physicians, EMS agencies, patients, families, and the local community.

Requirements

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
Graduate from an accredited school of nursing is required.
Minimum of 5 years of progressive clinical management/leadership experience at the Clinical or Director level managing a clinical or emergency unit is required.
Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New Mexico.
Emergency nursing clinical practices and specialty trauma/emergency training.
Critical Access Hospital (CAH) regulations and CMS conditions of participation.
Healthcare budgeting, productivity metrics, and capital expenditure analysis.
National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), Core Measures, and Emergency Department metrics (e.g., left without being seen, door-to-provider times).
State and federal regulations governing emergency medical care (EMTALA, HIPAA, OSHA).
Human resource management principles, conflict resolution, and staff motivation strategies.
Proficiency with Electronic Health Record (EHR) systems specific to Emergency Departments.
Experience with automated staffing and scheduling software tools.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel for budget tracking, Word for policies, PowerPoint for staff in-services).
Familiarity with hospital Incident Command Systems (HICS) and disaster management platforms.
Competency in interpreting business intelligence data, clinical dashboards, and quality reporting metrics.
Clinical Leadership: Ability to demonstrate solid progressive nursing leadership and operational oversight.
Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills across all levels of the organization.
Problem Solving: Advanced organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage stressful environments.
Change Management: Actively promotes organizational goals and guides staff through transitions with a positive attitude.
Patient Advocacy: Empathy and commitment to addressing patient/family concerns and elevating satisfaction metrics.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), Healthcare Administration (MHA), or a related field is preferred.
Advanced clinical certifications specific to emergency nursing (e.g., CEN, TNCC, ACLS, PALS) are highly preferred.

Responsibilities

Oversee day-to-day emergency services, ensure safe evidence-based care, optimize patient flow and triage, coordinate with ancillary departments, and conduct clinical rounding.
Develop and monitor operating, personnel, and capital budgets, control labor and overtime costs, and collaborate with leadership on major expenditures.
Direct departmental operations, foster a culture of safety and accountability, lead nursing staff, and complete performance evaluations.
Lead quality initiatives, track key performance indicators (such as door-to-provider time, LWBS, and length of stay), and implement corrective action and PI projects.
Maintain ongoing readiness and ensure full compliance with CMS, CIHQ, EMTALA, OSHA, HIPAA, and state health regulations.
Manage recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee relations, retention, and succession planning.
Validate annual competencies, coordinate continuing education, and support specialty certifications and residency programs.
Promote compassionate, patient-centered care and address patient and family concerns.
Participate in disaster planning, mass casualty preparedness, and lead emergency drills.
Build strong relationships with emergency physicians and mid-level providers, monitor physician satisfaction, and represent the department in the community.