JOB DESCRIPTION
THE OPPORTUNITY
As a critical member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) reports directly to the President of Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center (The Western Region). The CNO, Western Region will be responsible and accountable for the overall delivery and management of nursing professional practice, education, professional development, research, administration, and clinical services.
The CNO will be a visionary leader, guiding the execution of the strategic plan to achieve the organizational mission and vision. The CNO’s vision will support the existing high standards and goals for nursing practice while he/she will work closely with the Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center, senior leadership, physician leaders, as well as leaders across the Atlantic Health System ensuring and enhancing AHS as a clinical practice environment that is patient centered, with unsurpassed clinical quality and patient safety.
Key Responsibilities
The successful Chief Nursing Officer candidate:
The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for this position:
The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with strong strategic skills, exceptional communications skills and a track record of fostering transparent, positive relationships. The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree required. If this degree is not in nursing, the officer must have a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN).
At Atlantic Health System, our promise to our communities is; Anyone who enters one of our facilities, will receive the highest quality care delivered at the right time, at the right place, and at the right cost. This commitment is also echoed in the respect, development and opportunities we give to our more than 20,000 team members. Headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, we are one of the leading non-profit health care systems in the nation. Our facilities and sites of care include:
We Have Received Awards And Recognition For The Services We Have Provided To Our Patients, Team Members And Communities. Below Are Just a Few Of Our Accolades:
Team Member Benefits
Atlantic Health System offers a competitive and comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports the health, financial security, and well-being of all team members. Offerings vary based on role level (Team Member, Director, Executive). Below is a general summary, with role-specific enhancements highlighted:
Note: In Compliance with the NJ Pay Transparency Act (effective Sunday, June 1, 2025), all job postings will include the hourly wage or salary (or a range), as well as this summary of benefits. Final compensation and benefit eligibility may vary by role and employment status and will be confirmed at the time of offer.
EEO STATEMENT
Atlantic Health System, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor and therefore abides by applicable laws to protect applicants and employees from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, genetics, or veteran status.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Critical Care
AHS boasts several state-of-the-art intensive care units across all hospital campuses. These ICU’s include advanced equipment and technology which allows us to manage complex, critically ill patients across multiple service lines. Some of these populations include: trauma/surgery, medicine, neuro, and cardiac surgery. Many of our ICU’s are recipients of the Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, which represents the high-quality patient care that is provided within a strong multidisciplinary framework that leads to excellent clinical outcomes. All of the medical centers are designated Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission, with MMC, CMC, NMC, and HMC designated as Primary Stroke Centers and OMC being designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, providing diagnostics and therapeutics to the neurologically injured patient population, including advanced neuro intervention and monitoring. Morristown Medical Center is designated as a Level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and is a primary and referral destination for critically ill trauma patients within the region. MMC also boasts one of the largest cardiac surgery programs in the northeast, with two dedicated Cardiac Surgery ICU’s on its campus. Each medical center consists of a team of highly skilled and dedicated critical care health care professionals who provide extraordinary caring each and every day and are committed to supporting patients and their families during both the acute and post-acute phases of critical illness. AHS has established the first Post-ICU Care Center in NJ recognized by the Critical and Acute Illness Recovery Organization © , which is a resource for patients who are recovering from critical illness.
THE OPPORTUNITY
As a critical member of the executive leadership team, the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) reports directly to the President of Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center (The Western Region). The CNO, Western Region will be responsible and accountable for the overall delivery and management of nursing professional practice, education, professional development, research, administration, and clinical services.
The CNO will be a visionary leader, guiding the execution of the strategic plan to achieve the organizational mission and vision. The CNO’s vision will support the existing high standards and goals for nursing practice while he/she will work closely with the Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center, senior leadership, physician leaders, as well as leaders across the Atlantic Health System ensuring and enhancing AHS as a clinical practice environment that is patient centered, with unsurpassed clinical quality and patient safety.
Key Responsibilities
The successful Chief Nursing Officer candidate:
- Ensures the organizational values, goals, and objectives are transformed into daily operations resulting in an excellent quality, efficient, effective, caring, and respectful environment.
- Provides leadership for the practice of nursing and is accountable for nursing practice, quality, education/professional development, and research throughout the hospital.
- Provides leadership to define the scope of nursing practice and establishes structures, role accountability and systems to ensure clinical competence of all nursing personnel aligning with AHS nursing.
- Recommends and is responsible for annual operating and capital budgets for nursing and ensures prudent management of Hackettstown and Newton Medical Center’s resources.
- Creates a healthy work environment that is safe, respectful, and collaborative
- Builds credibility trust and partners with physicians as a champion for patient care, quality, service, and nursing professionalism.
- Collaborates with the Chief Medical Officer, Officers of HMC/NMC medical staff, and System VP of Quality and Safety to improve quality, patient safety and service efforts.
- Fosters a multidisciplinary approach to quality improvement with a focus on coordination of services and improving patient outcomes
- Develops effective working relationships with key stakeholders and system leaders
- Manages organizational relationships in a way that builds and maintains a climate of trust and inspires commitment from others to achieve organization goals.
- Partners with HR team in the development of strategies to promote the recruitment, retention, workforce management, and recognition of excellence in nursing.
- Promotes professional nursing practice and assures that standards of care are developed, implemented, and evaluated.
- Builds and expands upon partnerships with nursing education institutions to develop a talent pipeline and contribute to the education and training of future nurses.
- Assures standards of patient care and standards of nursing practice are consistent with current research and professional standards.
- Provides consultation and collaboration with nurses, physicians, and leaders in establishing policies for patient care
- Collaborates with Graduate Medical Education (GME) program directors to integrate nursing and medical education efforts.
- Drives continuous quality improvement, standards of care, discovery, and innovation through research and use of best, evidence-based practices.
- Involvement in HMC/NMC Foundation efforts. Acts as a resource.
- Acts as a resource to nurses, and other disciplines.
- Serves as an advocate for Community resource to services offered at HMC/NMC
- Coaches, mentors, advises, develops and supports his/her direct management reports, other nursing leaders, councils, work groups and committees.
- Develops, maintains, and strengthens standards of patient care in concert with the Chief Medical Officer, president of the medical staff, department chairs, staff committees and individual practitioners.
The following goals and objectives have been identified as priorities for this position:
- Establish trust and credibility with the leadership team, physicians, nursing team and colleagues in other departments. Build collaborative relationships that are based on open communication and mutual respect.
- Evaluate and assess the nursing leadership structure and make changes to that structure, if necessary, to ensure nursing has the right leadership to meet the needs of patient care, now and into the future.
- Support a vision of established AHS nursing which reflects Atlantic Health’s vision, mission, and values for quality, safety, and patient experience. This work will include expanding on the "Shared Governance" model for nursing at HMC & NMC that provides a voice for nursing, as well as grounds nursing practice in the delivery of care through unit-based councils and strong engagement. This exciting work will propel the nursing practice and ensure nursing has a voice in strategic decision-making, as well as encourage nurses to own their practices and be engaged in decision-making across the hospital.
- Promote a nursing culture that recognizes excellence in clinical care; champion participative decision-making regarding nursing practice and work environments through active rounding on units; and develop shared goals with the Quality Department and AHS Patient Experience.
- Foster an environment of collaboration with the Chief Medical Officer and other Medical Staff leaders, which will result in further developing standards of work in nursing and clinical care. This will include a disciplined approach to standards of work and service excellence that are implemented, evaluated, and sustained.
- Strive to maintain Atlantic Health System’s amazing work culture for nurses who want to dedicate their careers to community-based patient care. The CNO will inherit a nursing team where nurses have the respect and support of their medical staff and administrative leadership. The next CNO will engage leaders across the system to provide an environment where nurses can do their best work and leave the day energized. The CNO will have support to develop a strong nursing team and foster an environment of shared goals to propel the service.
The successful candidate will be a visionary leader with strong strategic skills, exceptional communications skills and a track record of fostering transparent, positive relationships. The ideal candidate will have the following professional qualifications and personal characteristics:
- Experience in and commitment to creating and leading innovative quality and safety programs that exceed national best practices in complex hospitals and health systems. Preferred familiarity with Lean and High Reliability Organization (HRO) approach and model.
- Understand how to support and mentor new nurses with a focus on first-year turnover, recruitment and retention of staff.
- Extensive knowledge of the clinical and business aspects of nursing
- Experience in a high-performing, measurement-driven organization that also has established an open and inclusive culture.
- A contemporary leader who can lead change effectively at the executive level in a complex environment with a diverse range of constituencies. Continually identifies opportunities for innovation and growth.
- Experience in a Shared Governance nursing environment that empowers nurses at all levels to participate in the direction of nursing practice.
- Proven experience developing and mentoring all members of the nursing workforce – especially new nurses – with an emphasis on creativity, innovation and teamwork.
- Extensive executive-level experience within high-performing organizations.
- A clinical operations-oriented leader with strong financial acumen.
- A track record of success improving performance, patient flow and collaboration with service lines.
- Proven ability to lead in a complex matrixed healthcare organization in an acute care setting.
- Demonstrated experience in successfully advocating and representing nursing at the senior administration level.
- A track record of effectively partnering and communicating with physicians; one who enjoys collaborating with physicians and is viewed as a champion for patient quality and clinical excellence.
- Proven hands-on success in leading challenging projects to successful completion. Demonstrated ability to hold teams accountable, work collaboratively and effectively with a wide variety of professionals to achieve strong bottom-line profitability of the organization.
- A track record of success working in an environment that values independent thinking, collaboration, transparency, mutual respect, and a shared passion for excellence and innovation.
- One who is patient-oriented and has passion and empathy.
- A history of developing and mentoring strong, cohesive leadership teams that drive excellence.
- A track record of success in creating a working environment in which morale is high, and team members feel valued and find joy and meaning in their work.
- A proven track record of being able to improve patient experience and team member engagement.
- A proven track of coaching and mentoring aspiring nurse leaders.
- Provides leadership to the nursing profession at regional, state, and national level.
- Master’s degree required. If this degree is not in nursing, the officer must have a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN).
- Advanced Certification in Nursing Administration recommended.
- Registered Nurse with current licensure or ability to become licensed in New Jersey.
- Extensive clinical nursing and management experience with a minimum of 3-5 years in senior nursing leadership roles.
- An advanced level of knowledge acquired through completion of formal and continuing education in Nursing, health policy, regulatory compliance, process redesign and management are essential.
- Nursing leadership experience in a hospital is required, a hospital within a healthcare system preferably.
- Knowledge and experience in Magnet principles as well as prior experience in a Magnet facility is preferred.
- Knowledge of nursing staffing methods, retention, recruitment, and finance. Proven strategic-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
QUALIFICATIONS
Master’s degree required. If this degree is not in nursing, the officer must have a bachelor’s in nursing (BSN).
- Advanced Certification in Nursing Administration recommended.
- Registered Nurse with current licensure or ability to become licensed in New Jersey.
- Extensive clinical nursing and management experience with a minimum of 3-5 years in senior nursing leadership roles.
- An advanced level of knowledge acquired through completion of formal and continuing education in Nursing, health policy, regulatory compliance, process redesign and management are essential.
- Nursing leadership experience in a hospital is required, a hospital within a healthcare system preferably.
- Knowledge and experience in Magnet principles as well as prior experience in a Magnet facility is preferred.
- Knowledge of nursing staffing methods, retention, recruitment, and finance. Proven strategic-thinking, problem-solving and analytical skills.
At Atlantic Health System, our promise to our communities is; Anyone who enters one of our facilities, will receive the highest quality care delivered at the right time, at the right place, and at the right cost. This commitment is also echoed in the respect, development and opportunities we give to our more than 20,000 team members. Headquartered in Morristown, New Jersey, we are one of the leading non-profit health care systems in the nation. Our facilities and sites of care include:
- Morristown Medical Center, Morristown, NJ
- Overlook Medical Center, Summit, NJ
- Newton Medical Center, Newton, NJ
- Chilton Medical Center, Pompton Plains, NJ
- Hackettstown Medical Center, Hackettstown, NJ
- Goryeb Children's Hospital, Morristown, NJ
- CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold, NJ
- Atlantic Home Care and Hospice
- Atlantic Mobile Health
- Atlantic Rehabilitation
We Have Received Awards And Recognition For The Services We Have Provided To Our Patients, Team Members And Communities. Below Are Just a Few Of Our Accolades:
- 100 Best Companies to Work For ® and FORTUNE® magazine for 15 years
- Best Places to Work in Healthcare - Modern Healthcare
- 150 Top Places to work in Healthcare - Becker's Healthcare
- 100 Accountable Care Organizations to Know - Becker's Hospital Review
- Best Employers for Workers over 50 - AARP
- Gold-Level "Well Workplace": Wellness Council of America (WELCOA)
- One of the 100 Best Workplaces for “Millennials” Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE® magazine
- One of the 20 Best Workplaces in Health Care: Great Place to Work® and FORTUNE® magazine
- Official Health Care Partner of the New York Jets
- NJ Sustainable Business
Team Member Benefits
Atlantic Health System offers a competitive and comprehensive Total Rewards package that supports the health, financial security, and well-being of all team members. Offerings vary based on role level (Team Member, Director, Executive). Below is a general summary, with role-specific enhancements highlighted:
- Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Coverage (22.5 hours per week or above for full-time and part-time team members)
- Life & AD&D Insurance.
- Short-Term and Long-Term Disability (with options to supplement)
- 403(b) Retirement Plan: Employer match, additional non-elective contribution
- PTO & Paid Sick Leave
- Tuition Assistance, Advancement & Academic Advising
- Parental, Adoption, Surrogacy Leave
- Backup and On-Site Childcare
- Well-Being Rewards
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Fertility Benefits, Healthy Pregnancy Program
- Flexible Spending & Commuter Accounts
- Pet, Home & Auto, Identity Theft and Legal Insurance
Note: In Compliance with the NJ Pay Transparency Act (effective Sunday, June 1, 2025), all job postings will include the hourly wage or salary (or a range), as well as this summary of benefits. Final compensation and benefit eligibility may vary by role and employment status and will be confirmed at the time of offer.
EEO STATEMENT
Atlantic Health System, Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer and federal contractor or subcontractor and therefore abides by applicable laws to protect applicants and employees from discrimination in hiring, promotion, discharge, pay, fringe benefits, job training, classification, referral, and other aspects of employment, on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity and sexual orientation), national origin, citizenship status, disability, age, genetics, or veteran status.
ABOUT THE TEAM
Critical Care
AHS boasts several state-of-the-art intensive care units across all hospital campuses. These ICU’s include advanced equipment and technology which allows us to manage complex, critically ill patients across multiple service lines. Some of these populations include: trauma/surgery, medicine, neuro, and cardiac surgery. Many of our ICU’s are recipients of the Beacon Award from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses, which represents the high-quality patient care that is provided within a strong multidisciplinary framework that leads to excellent clinical outcomes. All of the medical centers are designated Stroke Centers by the Joint Commission, with MMC, CMC, NMC, and HMC designated as Primary Stroke Centers and OMC being designated as a Comprehensive Stroke Center, providing diagnostics and therapeutics to the neurologically injured patient population, including advanced neuro intervention and monitoring. Morristown Medical Center is designated as a Level 1 trauma center by the American College of Surgeons and is a primary and referral destination for critically ill trauma patients within the region. MMC also boasts one of the largest cardiac surgery programs in the northeast, with two dedicated Cardiac Surgery ICU’s on its campus. Each medical center consists of a team of highly skilled and dedicated critical care health care professionals who provide extraordinary caring each and every day and are committed to supporting patients and their families during both the acute and post-acute phases of critical illness. AHS has established the first Post-ICU Care Center in NJ recognized by the Critical and Acute Illness Recovery Organization © , which is a resource for patients who are recovering from critical illness.
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