The director of nursing (DON) — sometimes called the executive director of nursing or the director of nursing operations — supervises the entire nursing department of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other healthcare facility. This top-level administrative role comes with many responsibilities that will vary depending on the facility, but can include overseeing all nursing professionals and operations, acting as a liaison between nursing staff and other departments, reviewing policies and procedures, managing expenses, and more.
IntelyCare can help you find DON jobs and assistant director of nursing (ADON) jobs that fulfill your career goals. You can also have a look at similar roles such as CNO jobs and nurse manager jobs. Get started today.
Education and Certifications for a DON Job
To qualify for director of nursing positions, it’s expected that you will have worked as a nurse for a number of years in addition to holding nurse leader roles. Employers may prefer a candidate that has an advanced degree — either a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
To stand out in the applicant pool, you may want to pursue credentials such as:
Certified director of nursing (CDONA)
Director of nursing services certification (DNS-CT)
Resume and Cover Letter for Director or Nursing Positions
Make sure to tailor each resume and cover letter to a specific DON job ad. For instance, if a hospital is looking to hire a DON to “plan and execute all activities related to staffing, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, and continuing education initiatives” and you have relevant experience, include the phrase on your resume, and expound on your successes in that area on your cover letter.
Need help with your application materials? Our sample director of nursing resume and cover letter offer clear guidelines on the content and formatting that employers may be hoping to see.
Interviewing for DON Jobs
In this and other executive healthcare roles, you’re expected to have exceptional people skills. Demonstrate your communication know-how during the job interview by taking ample time to prepare in advance. Review common director of nursing interview questions and craft your answers with both nurses and patients in mind. Be sure your words and demeanor reflect the values and mission of the facility at which you are interviewing.
Director of Nursing Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track salary data for a director of nursing job. However, the role can be considered a type of medical and health services manager, whose annual average salary is $134,440. Base salaries can be influenced by your years of experience, education and certifications, employer, and location. To see what director of nursing jobs’ salary expectations are in your area, click on some of the current jobs on IntelyCare.
Explore Director of Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare
Take a look at all the open director of nursing positions and assistant director of nursing positions available right now. Want additional options? Learn how IntelyCare can match you with even more nursing jobs that interest you.
Responsibilities The primary purpose of the Assistant Director of Nursing UH (Unit Based) position is to operationalize and transition changes in the care delivery system of a unit or set of units through the skillful directing, coaching, support, and delegation to staff in the provision of clinically safe, fiscally sound, compassionate care and services to achieve safety, patient/family goals and patients/family satisfaction. The Assistant Director has (24) hour responsibility for the unit’s service area and develops a dynamically functioning interdisciplinary team. She/he sustains the daily operational functioning of the units/services area and makes immediate modifications to prevent impediments, errors, and delays in goals achievement. This role is also accountable for the execution of the units/services area Performance Improvement Plan. She/he engenders confidence, trust and fosters collaborative/collegial relationships that generate staff achievement and pride. The Assistant Director facilitates an atmosphere of interactive management and the development of collegial relationships among the nursing personnel and other disciplines. The Assistant Director facilitates change through education, demonstrating skill in implementing practices changes. She/he collaborates with the Department of Education and Professional Development and assists in presentations, orientations, and other house-wide education/training. Qualifications Licensed as a Registered Nurse in the State of New Jersey. Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing is required. Master’s Degree in a related field is preferred. One (1) year minimum of nursing managerial experience preferred. Minimum of three (3) years clinical care delivery experience. BLS (CPR) is required.
