Director Patient Care (RN), Operating Room

RWJBarnabas Health; Elizabeth (NJ); On-site; USD 152,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off (PTO)

Medical and Prescription DrugInsurance

Dental and Vision Insurance

Retirement Plans

Tuition Reimbursement

Wellness Programs

Job summary

RWJBarnabas Health is seeking a Director of Patient Care for the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, NJ. This salaried day-shift leadership role combines perioperative nursing expertise with strategic oversight of staffing, budget, and quality initiatives to ensure safe, high-quality surgical care.

You will lead nursing teams, collaborate with physicians and hospital leadership, develop staffing plans, mentor staff, oversee performance-improvement projects, and

Qualifications

• BSN with NJ RN license required.
• Minimum four years Operating Room experience.
• Two years leadership experience; CNOR, BLS, ACLS certifications required.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical and operational leadership for the Operating Room, with 24-hour accountability for patient care quality, departmental performance, and nursing operations
• Supervise Charge Nurses and frontline nursing staff while promoting a positive, collaborative perioperative environment
• Partner with Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, physicians, and hospital leadership to optimize surgical services, nursing coverage, and patient care delivery
• Lead recruitment, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development initiatives to maintain a qualified nursing team
• Collaborate with Nursing Education and Human Resources to ensure staff competency and ongoing education
• Develop staffing plans, schedules, and nursing assignments based on acuity, volume, and budget guidelines
• Establish nursing practice standards aligned with regulatory requirements
• Lead performance improvement initiatives and monitor quality indicators
• Promote Shared Governance and High Reliability in daily operations
• Oversee budgets, supply utilization, inventory management, and cost-containment strategies

Skills

Nursing leadership

Staff development

Quality improvement

Communication skills

Education

BSN

MSN preferred

Job description

Director Patient Care (RN), Operating Room

Req #: 0000272224

Category: Nurses

Status: Full-Time

Shift: Day

Facility: Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Department: Operating Room

Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 per year

Location: 225 Williamson Street, Elizabeth, NJ 07202

Job Title: Director Patient Care

Location: WILLIAMSON STREET

Department Name: Operating Room

Req #: 0000272224

Status: Salaried

Shift: Day

Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 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 play an essential role in advancing clinical excellence, supporting healthcare professionals, and delivering exceptional patient experiences. As the Director of Patient Care supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, you'll combine perioperative nursing expertise, strategic leadership, and operational management to oversee safe, high-quality surgical care. From guiding nursing practice and developing high-performing teams to optimizing staffing, managing departmental resources, and advancing quality improvement initiatives, you'll help create an environment where patients receive exceptional care and healthcare professionals are empowered to succeed. Working closely with physicians, department leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, you'll play a critical role in strengthening operational performance, promoting evidence-based practices, and supporting the organization's mission of delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.

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

• Providing clinical and operational leadership for the Operating Room, maintaining 24-hour accountability for patient care quality, departmental performance, and nursing operations
• Supervising Charge Nurses and frontline nursing staff while promoting a positive, collaborative, and high-performing perioperative environment
• Partnering with Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, physicians, and hospital leadership to optimize surgical services, nursing coverage, and patient care delivery
• Leading recruitment, retention, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development initiatives to maintain a qualified and engaged nursing team
• Collaborating with Nursing Education and Human Resources to ensure staff competency, mandatory training, continuing education, and successful orientation
• Developing and managing staffing plans, schedules, and nursing assignments based on patient acuity, surgical volume, operational demands, and budgetary guidelines
• Establishing and maintaining nursing practice standards consistent with AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory requirements
• Leading performance improvement initiatives, monitoring quality indicators, investigating patient safety events, and implementing corrective actions to strengthen clinical outcomes
• Promoting Shared Governance, staff engagement, and High Reliability principles while encouraging team participation in clinical decision-making and process improvement
• Overseeing departmental budgets, financial performance, supply utilization, inventory management, and cost-containment strategies without compromising patient care
• Analyzing operational data, staffing productivity, patient outcomes, and employee and physician satisfaction to identify opportunities for improvement
• Supporting departmental strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, issue resolution, and the continuous advancement of safe, efficient surgical services

This role might be for you if:

• Leading perioperative nursing operations and advancing excellence in surgical patient care aligns with your professional expertise and leadership goals
• A strong Operating Room background provides the clinical foundation needed to guide nursing practice, evaluate patient care needs, and support complex surgical services
• Developing, mentoring, and empowering nursing professionals is a meaningful part of your leadership philosophy
• Strategic planning and operational oversight are areas of strength, particularly when balancing clinical priorities, staffing needs, and organizational objectives
• Building collaborative relationships with surgeons, physicians, nursing leaders, and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals comes naturally
• Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking skills support your ability to make timely decisions in a dynamic perioperative environment
• Experience managing staffing models, scheduling, productivity, and departmental resources allows you to support efficient and sustainable operations
• An analytical mindset guides your approach to evaluating quality indicators, financial performance, patient outcomes, and opportunities for improvement
• Promoting a culture of patient safety, accountability, Shared Governance, and High Reliability is central to your leadership approach
• Financial stewardship, budget management, and responsible resource allocation are important components of your operational leadership experience
• Effective communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills help you navigate complex situations while maintaining positive professional relationships
• A commitment to evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, and compassionate, patient-centered care drives your approach to nursing leadership

To be considered for this Director of Patient Care opportunity, you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possess a current New Jersey Registered Nurse (RN) license. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is preferred. Candidates must have a minimum of four years of Operating Room experience and at least two years of experience in a leadership role. Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certifications are required. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong perioperative clinical expertise, nursing leadership, operational management, strategic planning, and staff development skills. Knowledge of AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory standards is essential, along with the ability to promote evidence-based nursing practice, patient safety, and High Reliability principles. Candidates should possess experience overseeing staffing, scheduling, departmental budgets, financial performance, inventory management, quality improvement, and performance metrics. Excellent communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills are necessary, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, hospital leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. A commitment to mentoring nursing professionals, promoting Shared Governance, and delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered care is expected. Flexibility to support departmental clinical and operational needs is important, including maintaining accountability for nursing services beyond standard business hours. This is a salaried, day shift leadership opportunity supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health, with 24-hour accountability for departmental operations and patient care quality.

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