Director, Nursing Operations

Westchester Medical Center Health Network; City of Poughkeepsie (NY); On-site; USD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

Westchester Medical Center Health Network is seeking a Director of Nursing Operations for MidHudson Regional Hospital to lead staffing offices and nurse leadership, ensuring high-quality patient care. You will collaborate with nursing and medical leadership to maintain staffing, practice standards and a safe care environment.

The role drives staffing across inpatient units and Behavioral Health, manages recruitment and retention, and partners with Education to prepare teams for patient

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive management experience in patient care services.
• Strong leadership, motivational and educational abilities.
• Outstanding written and verbal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Directs daily operations of the Nursing Staffing Office and Float Pool, including scheduling and coverage.
• Oversees staffing across inpatient units and Behavioral Health, aligning with staffing plans and patient needs.
• Ensures compliance with staffing plans, documents variances, and supports quality and safety initiatives.
• Manages Float Pool recruitment, orientation, competency validation and retention.
• Oversees scheduling practices, workforce records, and collaboration with HR and Finance on planning.

Skills

Leadership

Staff management

Communication

Education

BSN

MSN/Healthcare Admin (preferred)

Job description

The Director, Nursing Operations at MidHudson Regional Hospital, is expected to demonstrate leadership by exercising sound judgment in all decision-making, providing consistency in all actions and fostering teamwork in all interactions.

Responsibilities

• Directs daily operations of the Nursing Staffing Office and Float Pool, including scheduling, staff deployment, coverage and escalation. Collaborates with nursing and medical leadership to maintain staffing and a clinical practice environment conducive to quality care.
• Oversees staffing across all inpatient units and Behavioral Health in partnership with unit leaders and house supervisors. Aligns coverage with approved clinical staffing plans, census, acuity, skill mix, staff competency and patient observation needs; coordinates responses to absences and changes in demand.
• Ensures nursing compliance with clinical staffing plans through shift-level monitoring, audits and timely corrective action. Documents and escalates staffing variances and unresolved safety concerns; supports the Clinical Staffing Committee with data, staffing concern reviews and recommendations for plan updates.
• Manages Float Pool recruitment, orientation, competency validation, performance evaluation and retention. Partners with Education and unit leaders to ensure staff are prepared for assigned patient populations, including Behavioral Health, and practice within validated competencies.
• Oversees scheduling practices, staffing records and workforce systems; ensures adherence to hospital policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements. Collaborates with Human Resources and Finance on workforce planning, position needs and staffing processes.

Manages assigned operating budgets and monitors productivity, vacancies, overtime, agency utilization and labor costs. Uses staffing and quality data to improve resource allocation while maintaining safe care and compliance with clinical staffing plans.

• Leads nursing practice standardization across inpatient units and Behavioral Health in collaboration with nursing leaders, Education and shared governance. Develops, implements and evaluates evidence-based nursing policies, standards, documentation and competency expectations.
• Ensures compliance with regulations governing Patient Care Services, including CMS, DNV and NYS DOH requirements and applicable Behavioral Health requirements. Anticipates regulatory changes, prepares for inspections and surveys, and follows up on recommendations for improvement.
• Leads Nursing Quality Initiatives, auditing and reporting. Evaluates nursing-sensitive outcomes, patient experience and staffing-related events with Quality and unit leaders; implements and monitors improvements in nursing practice and patient safety.
• Demonstrates knowledge of current practices and trends and serves as an in-hospital resource for patient care services. Identifies changing patient and community needs and coordinates multidisciplinary and multi-agency program improvements.
• Provides in-hospital and community education; partners with Education to address practice gaps and staff development. Promotes teamwork, accountability, effective communication and a respectful environment for staff and patients.
• Participates in the Administrator-on-Call roster.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of progressive management experience in patient care services.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing, required.
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Business or Healthcare Administration, preferred

LICENSES/CERTIFICATIONS

• Current New York State Registered Nurse (RN) License.

Other

• Must possess strong leadership skills and the ability to direct, motivate and educate others.
• Requires strong interpersonal skills and the demonstrated ability to communicate effectively (both written and verbal) and obtain desired results through others.
• Must possess excellent organizational skills and current knowledge of area of practice and regulatory requirements pertaining to area(s) of responsibility.

Special Requirements

• N/A