Director RN, Emergency Department & Med/Surg

Ntmconline; Los Lunas (NM); On-site; USD 180,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Valencia County Hospital in Los Lunas, NM seeks a Director RN for Emergency Department and Med/Surg to lead operations, budgeting, and patient care excellence.

Reporting to the CNO, this role oversees staffing, regulatory compliance, and collaborations with physicians, EMS, and the community.

Candidates bring BSN and at least 5 years in progressive leadership; MSN/MHA preferred; CAH/CMS familiarity is a plus.

Qualifications

• Experience in progressive clinical management/leadership at Director level.
• Knowledge of emergency nursing clinical practices and standards.
• Familiarity with CMS, HIPAA, OSHA and patient safety goals.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all Emergency Department and Med Surg operations.
• Develop staffing plans based on census and acuity.
• Manage department budgets, capital needs, and revenue cycle considerations.
• Oversee triage processes and ESI compliance.
• Ensure safe, evidence-based nursing care and patient advocacy during rounds.

Skills

Clinical leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Patient advocacy

Education

BSN required

MSN/MHA preferred

Job description

Director RN, Emergency Department & Med/Surg

Job Category : Clinical

Requisition Number : DIREC003728

• Posted : October 23, 2026
• Full-Time

Locations

Showing 1 location

• Travel Required : No

Description

The Director of the Emergency Department and Med Surg, reporting to the CNO, organizes, plans, and administers the day-to-day operations of the Emergency Room and Med Surg at Valencia County Hospital. This role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective, and timely emergency clinical services within established productivity and budget standards. The Director manages departmental personnel, capital and operating budgets, regulatory compliance, and serves as a visionary leader to develop and grow the service line. This position acts as a vital liaison between the Emergency Department, administration, physicians, EMS agencies, patients, families, and the local community.

Clinical & Departmental Operations

• Ensure delivery of safe, evidence-based emergency nursing care.
• Monitors patient care activities and ensures the proper application of department policy and procedure and adherence to National Patient Safety goals. Ensures that nursing care is based on the nursing process and evaluates the effectiveness on an ongoing basis.
• Oversees clinical standards, implements evidence-based practices, and acts as a patient advocate during rounds.
• Monitor patient flow to reduce wait times and improve throughput.
• Oversee triage processes and Emergency Severity Index (ESI) compliance.
• Coordinate care with inpatient units, surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, and ancillary departments.
• Develop staffing plans based on patient census and acuity.
• Manages shift rosters, monitors patient acuity, and adjusts staffing levels to ensure safe nurse-to-patient ratios.
• Ensure emergency preparedness and disaster response readiness.
• Monitor emergency department capacity and diversion status.
• Plan, organize, and administer work in the Emergency Department by establishing services, policies, and procedures in accordance with hospital goals.
• Ensure continuous, accurate, timely, and cost-effective emergency services are provided to all patients.
• Interpret organizational and departmental policies for staff, analyze and resolve conflicts, and maintain a cohesive work environment.
• Assure that the work environment is safe and that staff have the necessary, functional equipment and supplies to achieve high-quality clinical outcomes.
• Conduct routine clinical rounding on newly admitted or presenting patients in the Emergency Department to directly address patient and family concerns.

Financial Management & Budgeting

• Develop, implement, and monitor the Emergency Department's annual operating, personnel, and capital budgets.
• Perform ongoing analyses to evaluate and recommend equipment and supplies for purchase, lease, or rental within budget and group purchasing contracts.
• Control overtime and agency staffing costs.
• Collaborate closely with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) to review major expenditures and complete appropriate capital justification forms.
• Manage department staffing grids to optimize productivity standards while maintaining patient safety and high-quality care.
• Monitor revenue cycle opportunities affecting emergency services.

Leadership & Staff Management

• Direct and oversee all Emergency Department and Med Surg operations.

Quality & Performance Improvement

Responsible for creating and implementing departmental policies and procedures to enhance patient care.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Patient Satisfaction: Achieves and maintains department patient satisfaction targets.
• Throughput Metrics: Minimizes Front-End times (Door-to-Provider) and optimizes Total Length of Stay (LOS) for discharged and admitted patients.
• Left Without Being Seen (LWBS): Maintains LWBS rates below the national/organizational benchmark.
• Patient satisfaction (HCAHPS/Press Ganey or equivalent)
• Nurse turnover and vacancy rates
• Overtime and labor productivity
• Falls and medication errors
• Hospital-acquired infection rates
• Sepsis bundle compliance
• Stroke and STEMI response times
• Budget Compliance: Manages department operational, labor, and capital expenses within approved limits.
• Staff Retention: Meets or exceeds annual nursing and support staff retention targets.
• Regulatory & Quality Standards: Achieves 100% compliance with Core Measures, chart audit requirements, and CIHQ/CMS surveys.

Valencia County Hospital is a new 15-bed acute care facility currently under construction in Los Lunas, NM. Owned by Valencia County and operated through a joint venture between Community Hospital Corporation (CHC) and Lovelace Health System, this startup represents a vital investment in rural healthcare and a unique opportunity to build clinical excellence from the ground up.

Travel Required

No .

Qualifications

Education

Required

Bachelors or better.

Experience

Required

5 years:

Education & ExperienceBachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.Graduate from an accredited school of nursing is required. Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN), Healthcare Administration (MHA), or a related field is preferred.Minimum of 5 years of progressive clinical management/leadership experience at the Clinical or Director level managing a clinical or emergency unit is required.

Preferred

KnowledgeEmergency nursing clinical practices and specialty trauma/emergency training.Critical Access Hospital (CAH) regulations and CMS conditions of participation.Healthcare budgeting, productivity metrics, and capital expenditure analysis.National Patient Safety Goals (NPSGs), Core Measures, and Emergency Department metrics (e.g., left without being seen, door-to-provider times).State and federal regulations governing emergency medical care (EMTALA, HIPAA, OSHA).

CompetenciesClinical Leadership: Ability to demonstrate solid progressive nursing leadership and operational oversight.Communication: Exceptional verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills across all levels of the organization.Problem Solving: Advanced organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage stressful environments.Patient Advocacy: Empathy and commitment to addressing patient/family concerns and elevating satisfaction metrics

Certifications: Valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of New Mexico. Advanced clinical certifications specific to emergency nursing (e.g., CEN, TNCC, ACLS, PALS) are highly preferred.

Equal Opportunity Employer
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