Interim Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Mille Lacs Health System; Onamia (MN); On-site; USD 150,000 - 230,000; Full time

Job summary

Mille Lacs Health System in Minnesota seeks a Chief Nursing Officer to lead the nursing staff and drive the quality of care across all departments. The CNO will combine clinical expertise with strategic leadership to ensure exceptional patient care while aligning with the facility's mission and values.

The role emphasizes compliance, performance management, budgeting, and collaboration with other leaders to implement care delivery models suitable for a rural setting and to engage with community

Qualifications

• Master's degree in nursing, business or related field is required.
• Minnesota RN Licensure is required.
• 7–10 years of progressively responsible nursing experience, with 3–5 years in a leadership role in a hospital setting.
• Rural healthcare experience is beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement nursing strategies aligned with organizational goals.
• Serve on the senior leadership team to shape strategy and policy.
• Oversee compliance with regulations and accreditation in nursing.
• Lead initiatives to improve patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction.
• Support recruitment, training, and mentoring of nursing staff.
• Manage staff performance and professional development.
• Contribute to financial forecasting and manage department budgets.
• Coordinate with other departments to integrate nursing services.
• Promote community health initiatives and partnerships.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Strategic leadership

Financial forecasting

Budget management

Executive communication

HR oversight

IT/Legal oversight

People skills

Integrity

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in nursing or related field

Minnesota RN license

Nurse Leadership Certification (NE-BC or CENP preferred)

7–10 years nursing experience with 3–5 years leadership

Job description

Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at this independent rural healthcare organization is responsible for leading the nursing staff and overseeing the quality of nursing care across all departments. This role combines clinical expertise with strategic leadership to ensure that the organization delivers exceptional patient care while aligning with the mission, vision, and values of the facility.

Job Duties

The essential functions of this job are identified with an asterisk (*) at the end of the bullet point.

• Develop and implement nursing strategies that align with the organization's goals.
• Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organizational strategy and policy development.
• Oversee compliance with healthcare regulations, accreditation standards, and best practices in nursing care.
• Lead initiatives to improve patient outcomes, safety, and satisfaction.
• Support recruiting, training, and mentor nursing staff to ensure high levels of competency and engagement.
• Manage staff performance, including evaluations, professional development, and conflict resolution.
• Participate in financial forecasting and manage the service line assigned department's budgets.
• Ensure efficient use of resources while maintaining high-quality care standards.
• Coordinate with other department heads to ensure seamless integration of nursing services with other medical services.
• Implement and oversee the models of care delivery suitable for a rural setting, focusing on community health needs.
• Act as the primary nursing representative in community health initiatives and partnerships.
• Communicate effectively with the board, staff, and community to promote the organization's nursing services.
• Ensure that the organization meets all federal, state, and local healthcare regulations related to nursing practices.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice. Employee will comply with all Mille Lacs Health System (MLHS) policies, including safety policies, procedures, and rules. All will be expected to report unsafe conditions to a member of management.

Required Education and Experience

• Master's degree in nursing, business or related field.
• Minnesota Registered Nurse Licensure.
• A minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible nursing experience, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or administrative role within a hospital setting.
• Experience in a rural healthcare setting is beneficial.

Preferred Education and Experience

• Certification in Nurse Leadership or Executive Nursing Practice (like NE-BC or CENP) is preferred.

Additional Eligibility Qualifications

• A minimum of 7-10 years of progressively responsible nursing experience, with at least 3-5 years in a leadership or administrative role.
• Experience in a rural healthcare setting is beneficial.
• Demonstrated experience in financial planning and analysis with previous experience overseeing human resources, information technology, and legal implications.
• Skilled in organizational development, personnel development, budget and resource development, and strategic planning.
• Excellent people skills, with an ability to partner with a dynamic leadership team.
• Possess personal qualities of integrity, credibility, and commitment to corporate mission.
• Flexible and can work within an ambiguous, fast-moving environment, while also driving toward clarity and solutions; demonstrated resourcefulness in setting priorities and guiding people and systems.
• Executive level professional written and verbal communication
• Patient Care, Quality and Safety focused
• Ethical Conduct
• Personal Effectiveness/Credibility
• Stress Management/Composure
• Teamwork and collaboration orientation
• Technological capacity

Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

Exempt position mainly Monday-Friday. This position may require occasional evening or weekend work to address urgent situations or to attend community events.

The CNO will work primarily in an office setting but will also spend time on the hospital floor engaging with staff and observe patient care.

Supervisory Responsibility

Position oversees Clinics, inpatient, emergency department, surgery, infusion, ambulance, radiology, senior behavioral health unit, quality, homecare/hospice service lines.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement

Mille Lacs Health System operates under the principles of equal employment opportunity for all persons without regard to race, color, creed, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, marital status, disability, military or veteran status, in regard to public assistance or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law.

Mille Lacs Health System may obtain information about you from a third party consumer reporting agency for employment purposes. Thus, you may be the subject of a "consumer report" which may include information about your character, general reputation, personal characteristics, and/or mode of living. These reports may contain information regarding your criminal history, social security verification, motor vehicle records ("driving records"), verification of your education or employment history, or other background checks.

You have the right, upon written request made within a reasonable time, to request whether a consumer report has been run about you and to request a copy of your report. These searches will be conducted by Verified Credentials, LLC, 20890 Kenbridge Court, Lakeville, MN 55044, 800-473-4934, www.verifiedcredentials.com - https://www.verifiedcredentials.com. The scope of this disclosure is all-encompassing, however, allowing the Company to obtain from any outside organization all manner of consumer reports throughout the course of your employment to the extent permitted by law.