Director of Nursing, Emergency Services

Director of Nursing, Emergency Services
San Antonio, Texas
$110-150K Annual Incentive Opportunity Full Benefits.
FULL TIME: DAYS

Position Summary:

The Director of Nursing for Emergency Services provides dynamic and strategic leadership for all nursing and patient care operations within the Emergency Department (ED) at [Hospital Name/Organization]. Reporting directly to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), this critical role is accountable for ensuring the delivery of exceptional, safe, and efficient emergency care. The Director will lead a large and diverse team of registered nurses, advanced practice providers, and support staff, fostering a culture of clinical excellence, critical thinking, and collaborative practice in a fast-paced environment. This position holds 24/7 responsibility for the operational and clinical oversight of the Emergency Department, including resource management, staff development, quality improvement initiatives, and ensuring optimal patient flow and throughput.

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide visionary and strategic leadership for the Emergency Department nursing team, aligning departmental goals with the hospital's mission and strategic objectives.
• Oversee the daily operations of the Emergency Department, ensuring efficient patient triage, assessment, treatment, and discharge processes.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate evidence-based nursing practice standards, policies, and procedures specific to emergency care.
• Lead, mentor, and develop nurse managers, charge nurses, and staff nurses within the Emergency Department, fostering a culture of accountability, teamwork, resilience, and continuous learning.
• Ensure the competency of all Emergency Department clinical staff through effective orientation, ongoing training, and performance evaluation, with a focus on critical care skills and emergency protocols.
• Collaborate effectively with emergency physicians, hospitalists, specialists, and other interdisciplinary team members to optimize patient care outcomes and the patient experience in a high-pressure setting.
• Actively participate in quality improvement initiatives, data analysis (e.g., patient flow metrics, wait times, core measures), and the development and implementation of action plans to enhance patient safety and clinical effectiveness in the ED.
• Manage the Emergency Department budget effectively, ensuring responsible resource allocation, staffing optimization, and fiscal accountability.
• Maintain a visible and accessible presence within the Emergency Department, serving as a clinical resource, role model, and advocate for both patients and staff.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and accreditation standards relevant to emergency care and hospital operations.
• Act as a liaison between the Emergency Department and other hospital departments, as well as external emergency medical services (EMS) agencies, fostering effective communication and collaboration.
• Participate in the development and implementation of new programs and services within the Emergency Department to meet the evolving needs of the community.
• Lead and support initiatives related to disaster preparedness and emergency response within the hospital.

Qualifications:

Required:

• Active and unencumbered Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Texas.
• Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) certifications. ¹  
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• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited nursing school.
• Minimum of five (5) years of recent clinical experience working as a Registered Nurse in an Emergency Department setting.
• Minimum of two (2) years of progressive leadership experience in a hospital Emergency Department, such as Nurse Manager, Assistant Nurse Manager, or full-time Charge Nurse with significant leadership responsibilities.
• Demonstrated strong leadership, critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills in a high-acuity environment.
• Excellent communication (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively interact with patients, families, physicians, and staff under stressful circumstances.
• Proven ability to effectively manage budgets and resources.
• Knowledge of regulatory and accreditation standards relevant to emergency care.

Preferred:

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Master's degree in a healthcare-related field.
• CEN (Certified Emergency Nurse) certification.
• Experience with process improvement methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) in an emergency care setting.
• Experience working in a high-volume or Level II Trauma Center Emergency Department.