Chief Nursing Officer – Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital

Chief Nursing Officer – Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital

Morgantown, West Virginia

Salary: Up to $160,000, based on experience
Bonus Program
Relocation Assistance Available
90-Bed Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospital

An excellent opportunity is available for an accomplished Chief Nursing Officer to provide executive nursing leadership for a 90-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital in Morgantown, West Virginia.

This is a highly visible executive position reporting directly to the hospital CEO and supported by a Regional CNO. The incoming CNO will lead a substantial nursing organization that includes approximately 120 nursing staff, along with nurse managers, supervisors, clinical program leaders, and other key support functions.

Candidates do not need previous inpatient rehabilitation experience to be considered. Strong nursing leaders from an acute care hospital environment with significant team leadership, 24-hour accountability, financial oversight, patient satisfaction, and employee engagement experience are encouraged to apply.

About the Hospital

This is a 90-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital providing intensive rehabilitation services to patients recovering from serious illnesses, injuries, surgeries, and other complex medical conditions.

This is not a nursing home, assisted living facility, or long-term care environment. Patients typically have an average length of stay of approximately 7–14 days.

The hospital does not operate an Emergency Department, operating rooms, outpatient clinics, or ambulatory services, allowing the nursing leadership team to maintain a focused commitment to inpatient rehabilitation and recovery.

Position Overview

The Chief Nursing Officer is responsible for the overall leadership, quality, performance, and strategic direction of nursing services throughout the hospital.

The CNO will have 24-hour accountability for nursing operations and will work closely with the CEO, hospital leadership team, physicians, nursing leaders, and Regional CNO to ensure exceptional patient care, strong clinical outcomes, appropriate staffing, employee engagement, regulatory compliance, and operational performance.

This leader will have responsibility for nursing strategy, staffing and FTE management, patient satisfaction, recruitment and retention, policy and procedure oversight, performance management, budgeting, and leadership development.

Leadership Scope

The CNO will provide leadership to an extensive nursing and clinical support organization that includes:

• 2 full-time Nurse Managers
• 8 full-time Nurse Supervisors
• Staff Scheduler
• Infection Control Nurse
• Hospital Educator
• Wound Care Coordinator
• Respiratory Supervisor
• Dialysis Program Manager
• Dietitians
• Approximately 120 nursing staff, including RNs, LPNs, Rehabilitation Nursing Technicians, and Unit Secretaries

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and 24-hour accountability for nursing services and patient care.
• Lead and develop nursing managers, supervisors, clinical leaders, and frontline nursing teams.
• Maintain high standards for clinical quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and nursing practice.
• Oversee staffing, scheduling, FTE management, productivity, and nursing resource allocation.
• Manage nursing budgets and ensure responsible financial and operational performance.
• Drive patient satisfaction initiatives and use survey results to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Lead nursing recruitment, retention, employee engagement, and leadership development efforts.
• Establish clear performance expectations and ensure accountability throughout the nursing organization.
• Oversee nursing policies, procedures, standards, and performance improvement initiatives.
• Partner closely with the CEO and interdisciplinary leadership team to support hospital goals and strategic priorities.
• Promote a collaborative culture focused on exceptional patient outcomes, employee engagement, and continuous improvement.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required
• Advanced degree required, such as an MSN or another applicable master's degree; candidates currently enrolled in a master's program may also be considered with proof of active enrollment
• Current Registered Nurse licensure or eligibility for appropriate state licensure
• Minimum of 5 years of nursing leadership experience within an inpatient rehabilitation hospital or acute care hospital environment
• Experience leading larger nursing teams
• Demonstrated 24-hour nursing leadership accountability
• Experience with staffing and FTE management
• Budgetary and financial oversight experience
• Experience developing and enforcing nursing policies and procedures
• Experience managing employee performance and disciplinary actions
• Strong background in patient satisfaction initiatives
• Demonstrated success with nursing recruitment, retention, and employee engagement

Certification

Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) certification is not required upon hire but must be obtained within the first year in the position. Support will be provided toward obtaining the certification.

Who We're Looking For

The strongest candidate will be a proven nursing executive or senior nursing leader who has successfully managed large inpatient nursing teams and complex 24/7 hospital operations.

Previous inpatient rehabilitation leadership experience is valuable, but we are equally interested in strong candidates from the acute care hospital setting who can demonstrate success in:

• Leading large nursing teams
• Developing managers and frontline leaders
• Improving patient satisfaction
• Managing FTEs, staffing, and productivity
• Recruitment and retention
• Employee engagement
• Budget management
• Quality and performance improvement
• Policy and procedure oversight
• Holding teams accountable while building a positive nursing culture

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This position offers the opportunity to serve as the top nursing executive for a 90-bed hospital, reporting directly to the CEO and playing an integral role on the hospital's senior leadership team.

The CNO will inherit a substantial leadership structure and approximately 120 nursing staff, providing the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on nursing culture, clinical quality, patient satisfaction, employee engagement, recruitment, retention, and operational performance.

For an experienced acute care nursing leader interested in transitioning into inpatient rehabilitation, this can also provide an attractive opportunity to broaden executive experience while continuing to lead a complex, hospital-based nursing organization.

Interested? Let's Talk.

If you are an experienced CNO, ACNO, VP of Nursing, Nursing Director, or senior hospital nursing leader with significant 24-hour operational responsibility and a strong record of leading large nursing teams, I would welcome the opportunity to speak with you confidentially.

Qualified nursing leaders are encouraged to apply with a current resume or reach out directly for a confidential conversation regarding the position, compensation, bonus opportunity, relocation assistance, and next steps.