Asst Director Patient Care (Full Time Day RN), Operating Room

RWJBarnabas Health; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 125,000 - 157,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

PTO

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Disability Insurance

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Programs

Voluntary Benefits

Employee Discounts

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking an Assistant Director of Patient Care for the Operating Room in Elizabeth, NJ. This salaried, full-time Day shift role leads perioperative nursing teams, oversees day-to-day OR operations, and partners with the Director of Patient Care to ensure safe, efficient, high-quality surgical services.

The ideal candidate holds a BSN (MSN preferred), NJ RN license, and has 3+ years OR nursing experience with 2+ years in leadership. ACLS/CNOR preferred.

Qualifications

• Active New Jersey RN license required.
• BSN degree required; MSN preferred.
• Minimum 3 years Operating Room nursing experience.
• Minimum 2 years leadership experience.
• ACLS certification preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for day-to-day nursing care and operations within the Operating Room.
• Partner with the Director of Patient Care to maintain high clinical practice standards and staff engagement.
• Lead, mentor, and support Charge Nurses and frontline staff; foster development and accountability.
• Coordinate staffing based on patient acuity, surgical volume, census, and budget guidelines.
• Support recruitment, orientation, and retention strategies for perioperative nursing teams.
• Monitor quality outcomes, patient care data, and performance metrics to drive improvements.
• Ensure nursing practices comply with organizational standards and regulatory requirements.
• Collaborate with surgeons, anesthesia providers, and multidisciplinary teams to ensure seamless OR operations.
• Support inventory management and cost-containment while maintaining patient care quality.
• Advocate for Shared Governance, High Reliability, and evidence-based leadership.

Skills

Leadership

Perioperative nursing

Staffing management

Quality metrics

Data-driven decisions

Education

BSN

MSN

CNOR

Job description

Asst Director Patient Care (Full Time Day RN), Operating Room

Req #: 0000262339

Category: Nursing Management / Leadership

Status: Full-Time

Shift: Day

Facility: Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Department: Operating Room

Pay Range: $125,000.00 - $156,900.00 per year

Location: 225 Williamson Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202

Job Title: Asst Director Patient Care

Location: WILLIAMSON STREET

Department Name: Operating Room

Req #: 0000262339

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $125,000.00 - $156,900.00 per year

Pay Transparency:

The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.

The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.

At RWJBarnabas Health, our nursing leaders help create environments where exceptional patient care, engaged teams, and operational excellence thrive together. As the Assistant Director of Patient Care for the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, you'll combine perioperative expertise with people leadership, operational oversight, and a commitment to continuous improvement. Partnering closely with the Director of Patient Care, you'll help lead day-to-day Operating Room operations while developing nursing teams, optimizing resources, and advancing quality and safety initiatives. Joining RWJBarnabas Health means stepping into a leadership role where your clinical expertise and ability to inspire others directly influence the experience of patients, physicians, and team members.

As an Assistant Director of Patient Care, a typical day may include:

• Providing leadership and oversight for day-to-day nursing care and operations within the Operating Room while supporting safe, efficient, and patient-centered surgical services


• Partnering with the Director of Patient Care to maintain high standards of clinical practice, operational performance, staff engagement, and patient experience


• Leading, mentoring, and supporting Charge Nurses, Registered Nurses, and frontline team members while fostering professional development, accountability, and a positive work environment


• Coordinating staffing based on patient acuity, surgical volume, census, clinical competencies, and budget guidelines to ensure appropriate coverage and efficient utilization of resources


• Supporting recruitment, selection, orientation, education, and retention strategies to build and maintain a highly skilled and engaged perioperative nursing team


• Monitoring quality outcomes, patient care data, occurrence reports, avoidable delays, and performance metrics to identify opportunities and drive meaningful improvements in practice


• Ensuring nursing practices, policies, and procedures remain consistent with organizational standards and applicable AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and other regulatory requirements


• Collaborating with surgeons, anesthesia providers, nursing leaders, educators, Human Resources, and multidisciplinary partners to promote effective communication and seamless Operating Room operations


• Supporting inventory management, resource utilization, and cost-containment initiatives while balancing financial stewardship with the delivery of exceptional patient care


• Advancing Shared Governance, High Reliability principles, and evidence-based leadership practices while engaging team members in decisions that influence patient care and departmental performance

This role might be for you if:

• You are an experienced Operating Room nurse who is energized by leading, developing, and mentoring clinical teams


• You can balance patient care priorities, staffing needs, operational demands, and financial considerations without losing sight of quality and safety


• Strong clinical judgment and perioperative expertise allow you to serve as a trusted resource when complex clinical or operational situations arise


• You enjoy using quality metrics, patient care data, and performance trends to identify opportunities and improve outcomes


• You communicate confidently and build collaborative relationships with nurses, physicians, anesthesia providers, support departments, and organizational leaders


• You know how to delegate effectively, recognize individual strengths, and create an environment where team members can grow and perform at their best


• You are comfortable making timely staffing and resource decisions in response to changing surgical volume and patient acuity


• You value Shared Governance, evidence-based practice, High Reliability principles, and continuous improvement


• You bring a patient-centered perspective to leadership decisions while advocating for both the patients and team members you serve


• You are ready to help shape the strategy, culture, and future performance of a high-functioning Operating Room

To be considered for this Assistant Director of Patient Care opportunity, you must hold an active New Jersey Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and current BLS certification. Candidates must possess a minimum of three years of Operating Room nursing experience and at least two years of leadership experience. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), ACLS certification, and Certified Nurse Operating Room (CNOR) credential are preferred. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong perioperative clinical expertise, team leadership, communication, critical thinking, staffing and resource management, data analysis, and performance improvement skills. Candidates should be comfortable supporting the clinical needs of the department while leading staff, managing competing operational priorities, and advancing quality, safety, and High Reliability initiatives. This position is scheduled four days per week from 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with flexibility to support departmental needs

At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.

• Paid Time Off (PTO)


• Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance


• Dental and Vision Insurance


• Retirement Plans


• Short & Long Term Disability


• Life & Accidental Death Insurance


• Tuition Reimbursement


• Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts


• Wellness Programs


• Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)


• Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!

RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer