Chief Nursing Officer

Overview

Are you a results-driven leader ready to make a meaningful impact to patients, caregivers, and your community? At Hi-Desert Continuing Care Center hospital, were seeking an innovative and experienced healthcare leader to drive excellence and inspire our team towards exceptional patient outcomes and operational success.

At Hi-Desert Continuing Care Center, we understand that our greatest asset is our dedicated team of professionals. That’s why we offer more than a job – we provide a comprehensive benefit package that prioritizes your health, professional development, and work-life balance. The available plans and programs include:

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match
• Generous paid time off
• Career development and continuing education opportunities
• Health savings accounts, healthcare & dependent flexible spending accounts
• Employee Assistance program, Employee discount program
• Voluntary benefits include pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness insurance, long term care, elder & childcare, auto & home insurance

Note: Eligibility for benefits may vary by location and is determined by employment status

Job Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

The Chief Nursing Office has responsibility for facilitating, directing, and coordinating operational activities and programs relative to the day-to-day hospital operations of the Hospital through the delivery of cost effective and quality services. He/she provides strategic leadership as the patient care executive responsible for all nursing and other designated patient care functions and services within the hospital organization. Working closely with labor leadership, The CNO builds effective partnerships and promotes collaborative relationships in the Hospital. Additionally, this executive is responsible for assuring the implementation of market- and hospital-wide strategic initiatives and policies. The Chief Nursing Officer participates with senior leadership to achieve the highest quality healthcare in a clinically and fiscally accountable manner.

The Chief Nursing Officer has the following accountabilities:

• Manages the day-to-day operations in the hospital. Assumes responsibility for hospital administration in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer. Provides leadership in building a team and an organization that will assume responsibility and accountability for achieving both the mission and financial/operational objectives.
• Oversight for the professional practice of nursing and the provision of nursing care in all licensed or surveyable areas of the medical facility, including responsibility for regulatory, quality, service, resources, nursing staff competency and evaluation of the overall delivery of nursing care. Maintains strong collaborative relationship with medical staff leadership and coordinates with medical group partners to provide for the seamless transition of patients across the continuum of care.
• Provides strategic leadership in bringing together diverse constituencies for the purposes of conceptualizing, articulating, and implementing a shared vision for the Hospital. Working in conjunction with Quality Improvement, assists in implementing a performance improvement program, including planning, setting priorities, conducting systematic performance assessments, implementing improvements based on such assessments, and maintaining achieved improvements.
• Provides leadership in the development and execution of key strategies which differentiate them from its competitors in the area of service and clinical excellence. Establishes clearly defined goals and objectives and ensures follow-through in a timely manner. Promotes open, effective, and ongoing communication and the sharing of information among and between Hospital employees, physician leadership and medical staff.
• Develops effective working relationships with key stakeholders, including assistant hospital administrators for Support Services, Quality and Service, Human Resources, Public Affairs, I.T., Pharmacy; Infection Control; Chiefs of Service; Regional Patient Care Services and Continuing Care; and Community Peers.
• Key executive in Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) oversight and providing leadership in Performance Management Improvement (PMI) cost controls.
• Manages the operating and capital budgets of areas of responsibility. Aggressively mitigates all variances to budget. Makes sound decisions on best use of resources in support of hospital/market priorities and strategies.
• Provides leadership in mentoring and developing direct reports and staff in a manner that emphasizes the importance of team work, collaboration, and the sharing of information, resources, and best practices among stakeholders across the organization. With Human Resources, directs the implementation of integrated human resources strategies to ensure quality results in the identification, recruitment, retention and development of key human resources.
• Understands, articulates, and ensures compliance with patient care standards reflected in federal and state regulation, The Joint Commission, and organizational policies and practices.
• In conjunction with medical facility leadership groups, determines the most cost-effective and efficient levels of patient care clinically and operationally; implements such locally. Participates in hospital strategic planning process and collaborates with facility management team and the medical staff to develop the overall financial plan for the medical facility.
• Achieves/exceeds performance expectations throughout the hospital’s operations. Establishes an environment that supports caregivers and enhances growth, communication, and job satisfaction.
• Develops and implements quality and utilization standards for patient care services to ensure coordinated plans of treatment, delivery of services that meet members’ needs, and the cost-effective utilization of necessary services. Ensures that nursing practice and clinical policies and procedures are reviewed and updated and are consistent with current standards and evidence-based practice.
• Communicates effectively as hospitals advocate to members of the community, continually seeking ways to improve and promote the public relations objective of the hospital and marketing services.
• Consistently supports compliance by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting with ethics and integrity, reporting non-compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulations, accreditation and licenser requirements (if applicable), and policies and procedures.

Compensation

A competitive compensation program will be tailored to the selected candidate. Base salary will be supplemented by a performance bonus and comprehensive, well-rounded benefits program, which includes relocation assistance.

Travel

Minimal.

The Candidate Education/Certifications

An academic degree in nursing is required, and a Master’s degree in Nursing or related field (Health Administration, Business, Public Health, or Management) is strongly preferred.

Active and current registered nurse license in the state of residence/practice is required.

Current CENP or NEA certification preferred.

Required Background Experience

Proven progressive experience in clinical, management and leadership roles in a complex healthcare system and multi-service provider setting is required. At least five years of progressive management experience in an acute care facility

environment as a Chief Nursing Officer or Nursing Director of multiple, complex nursing departments. Demonstrated success in operations improvement efforts, cost management initiatives, and health system development and management. Thorough understanding of the healthcare industry, particularly related to physician relationships. Experience assessing programs, evaluating organizational needs, designing process changes, and successfully implementing changes to process flow and patient care. Thorough knowledge of the principles and practices of hospital administration. Significant leadership experience in regulatory surveys.

Ability to serve as role model and advocate for the professional discipline of nursing.

Strong labor relations background preferred.

An individual able to effectively and efficiently organize patient care promoting optimal outcomes, patient safety, and patient, physician and employee satisfaction.

An individual with proven success recruiting, retaining and developing staff. Someone effective in mentoring and developing staff, encouraging professional growth and achievement.

Takes the lead in complying with regulatory standards, rules and laws.

High level, complex problem solving abilities both in groups and in one-on-one situations. A high orientation to detail with proven analytical and financial skills.

Demonstrated success in leading process improvement initiatives in a tertiary facility.

Highly developed expertise in quantitative analysis to support definition and advancement for the facility’s goals and objectives.

Decisive leader, with the ability to understand physicians’ viewpoints and needs, and work strategically in the best interest of patients and the facility. A strong reputation for sustained, inclusive, trust-based physician relations.

Experience in a system with excellent employee, physician and patient satisfaction, quality and outcomes improvement programs.

An understanding of information systems as they pertain not only to accounting but also to decision support, cost management and revenue enhancement.

Professional Attributes

Proven ability to identify the need for change, anticipating, recognizing and creatively solving resistance to change; working with others to view change as a challenge and opportunity for growth. Displays an ability to be a risk taker and assume the role of change agent. However, someone who understands the importance of collegiality, collaboration and team spirit.

A credible nurse leader who utilizes communication, coaching, sponsorship and training to successfully manage the people-side of change in order to realize successful outcomes of a business change.

One who is positive, creative and innovative with a strong understanding of the business aspects of healthcare and the acumen to play a substantive role in developing strategies, budgets and business plans. Financially astute, with a solid understanding of cost issues and initiatives.

Clearly a leader by example, able to articulate a clear vision and expectations for patient care services and other areas of responsibility.

An individual who has successfully driven initiatives that require coordination from multiple constituencies such as human resources, finance, information systems, lab, and pharmacy.

Personal Attributes An individual of highest personal and professional integrity, principle andknowledge, earning respect and support when making difficult decisions and choices. Able to establish immediate credibility with peers, senior leadership, and medical staff.

Must listen actively and accurately, encourage input from others. Provide clear directions. Maintain an ongoing dialogue with employees to ensure continual progress.

Excellent interpersonal skills; a dedicated listener, comfortable in a variety of settings dealing with diverse constituencies; a broad thinker. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively both verbally and in writing.

A collaborative and operational manager who will give employees a voice and encourage full participation of all team members. A leader who will inspire confidence and establish a sense of common direction and vision for the medical staff.

Updated 10/10/2025

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Employment practices will not be influenced or affected by an applicant’s or employee’s race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status or any other legally protected status. Tenet will make reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities unless doing so would result in an undue hardship.