Director of Nursing

Iowa Health Care; Creston (IA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive Compensation

Unlimited Paid Time Off

Comprehensive Benefits

Referral Bonus Program

Tuition Reimbursement

Digital Wallet Access

Job summary

Care Initiatives seeks a Director of Nursing to lead nursing operations across more than 40 skilled nursing communities in Iowa. You will uphold high clinical standards and a person-centered care model that honors resident independence and dignity.

You will mentor nursing leaders, coordinate care with interdisciplinary teams, and drive staffing efficiency and regulatory compliance to support exceptional resident outcomes.

Qualifications

• Experience leading nursing operations in long-term care settings.
• Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations.
• Strong people leadership and mentorship abilities.
• CPR certification and active RN license in Iowa.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all nursing operations with a focus on regulatory compliance and clinical excellence.
• Champion a person-centered, home-like care model that respects resident choice and dignity.
• Coach, mentor, and develop nursing leaders and staff to deliver relationship-based care.
• Ensure appropriate care levels through strong care coordination and smooth transitions.
• Drive staffing effectiveness, safety, budget accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Prepare teams to achieve deficiency-free surveys while maintaining a non-institutional approach.

Skills

Leadership in long-term care

Regulatory knowledge

Empathy and people skills

CPR Certification

Desire to learn and grow

Education

Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing (Iowa)

Job description

Make a Difference Every Day – Join Care Initiatives as a Director of Nursing!

Join our compassionate care team across more than 40 skilled nursing communities throughout Iowa.If you’re a dedicated and empathetic caregiver looking to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others during their healthcare journey, this is your opportunity to shine.

What You’ll Do & Key Responsibilities:

• Lead and oversee all nursing operations, ensuring regulatory compliance and high clinical standards of the nursing department.
• Champion a person-centered, home-like care model that honors resident choice, dignity, and independence.
• Coach, mentor, and inspire nursing leaders and staff to deliver exceptional, relationship-based care.
• Ensure residents and families receive the right level of care through strong care coordination and smooth service transitions.
• Drive staffing effectiveness, team member safety, budget accountability, and operational efficiency.
• Prepare, educate, and guide the team to achieve deficiency-free surveys while maintaining a non-institutional approach to care.
• Partner with interdisciplinary teams on pre-admission reviews, discharge planning, and occupancy support.
• Ensure nursing staff conduct regular rounds to monitor care delivery concerns and progress; acknowledge the progress while proposing and helping implement solutions to address concerns.
• Enforce policies and guide the team, fostering both personal and team growth.
• Manage administrative functions to enhance department efficiency and pave the way for future growth.
• Participate in an on-call rotation with other members of the leadership team.

Qualifications:

• Prior leadership experience within long-term care as an ADON/DON.
• Valid RN license in good standing. License must be valid within the state of Iowa, or ability to activate.
• Current, valid CPR Certification.
• Knowledge of federal and state long-term care regulations and laws.
• A desire to learn and grow as part of a quality focused clinical team.
• A strong commitment to helping others and consistently treating them with empathy, respect, patience, and discretion.

Why Join Care Initiatives?

• Competitive Compensation: Earn a highly competitive wage.
• Unlimited Paid Time Off: Enjoy healthy work life balance.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Eligible employees enjoy robust benefit options including medical, dental, vision, 401(k), PTO, and more.
• Referral Bonus Program: Earn cash rewards for referring your friends.
• Tuition Reimbursement:Develop your skills with company paid training and education to take your career to the next level.
• Digital Wallet Access: Get paid as you earn—no more waiting for payday!