Nursing Director, Emergency Department & ICU

Coast Plaza Hospital; Norwalk (CA); On-site; USD 145,000 - 214,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision plans

Company-paid life and AD&D insurance

401(k) with company match

Job summary

Coast Plaza Hospital in Norwalk, CA seeks a Nursing Director to lead the Emergency Department and ICU, guiding clinical practice, staffing, and performance improvement. You will drive quality, throughput, and patient experience while aligning with regulatory requirements and hospital goals.

The role demands strong leadership, collaboration with physicians, and a commitment to safety and equity. With accountability for two critical care areas and about 50 staff, you’ll shape staffing plans,

Qualifications

• 2+ years of progressive management experience in a clinical setting.
• 2+ years of clinical experience in the specialty area.
• Current RN license issued and/or recognized by the State Board of Nursing.
• American Heart Association BLS required.
• ED leadership: ACLS and PALS; NIHSS within 10 days of hire.
• ICU leadership: ACLS; NIHSS within 10 days of hire.
• Workplace Violence and MAB training within 10 days of hire and annually thereafter.
• Area-specific certification preferred.
• Strong critical thinking, interpersonal communication, organizational skills, PC skills, and the ability to work independently under pressure while placing patients and families first.

Responsibilities

• Carry 24-hour accountability for clinical practice, staffing, performance improvement, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance across ED and ICU.
• Oversee approx. 50 employees and coordinate with physicians, ancillary teams, and support services.
• Lead staffing, budgeting, and readiness for emergencies, transfers, and discharges.
• Model standards such as AIDET, SBAR, HIPAA, and monthly training compliance.

Skills

Critical thinking

Interpersonal communication

Organizational skills

PC skills

Working under pressure

Equity

Job description

Coast Plaza Hospital provides affordable, high-quality healthcare with consistency and compassion for the Norwalk community. As part of Pipeline Health System, it brings the support of a four-hospital system to the close relationships of a community hospital. This role leads two critical care areas: the Emergency Department and ICU. In a 117-bed hospital with 37 psychiatric beds, a 7-bed ER, a 7-bed ICU, and 4 OR suites, the Nursing Director will influence care when patients and families need clarity, speed, and confidence most.

The Moment & Opportunity

Coast Plaza recently received Joint Commission stroke certification and is working toward becoming a primary stroke receiving center. That progress creates a meaningful opportunity to strengthen emergency and critical care operations while supporting the hospital’s next stage of stroke readiness. The ED sees approximately 35 to 45 patients per day, and the ICU midnight census typically ranges from 4 to 7 patients. The next Director will help improve throughput from ED arrival through discharge, elevate patient experience, engage nursing staff, and advance quality metrics and patient care.

Scope & Impact

The Nursing Director carries 24-hour accountability for clinical practice, staffing, performance improvement, quality assurance, regulatory compliance, budget management, and team development across the ED and ICU. The role oversees approximately 50 employees across both departments and works in an environment that includes stroke and sepsis coordination. This leader will set expectations and build alignment across nursing, physicians, ancillary teams, spiritual and psychosocial support, and other hospital departments. Daily leadership includes staffing compliance, labor productivity, supply management, regulatory readiness, and coordination of patient transfers, discharges, and referrals. The Director will also model the standards expected at the bedside: AIDET communication, SBAR handoffs, white board use, HIPAA compliance, monthly training completion, escalation of potential safety events, and the willingness to stop the line when needed.

Expectations for Outcomes

• Strengthen ED and ICU performance improvement and quality plans, with focus on patient experience, throughput, stroke readiness, safe handoffs, and reliable care coordination.
• Build staffing plans that meet regulatory requirements while considering budget, productivity, and department needs.
• Assess clinical competency and skill needs, then implement education plans that support both newer staff and long-tenured team members.
• Lead with urgency, professionalism, and equity, ensuring patients, families, physicians, employees, and visitors experience consistent service.
• Maintain readiness across compliance, emergency codes, disaster response, standard precautions, Life Safety, utilities, hazardous materials, emergency preparedness, safety, medical equipment, and security programs.

Qualifications

Coast Plaza is seeking a positive change agent: a nursing leader who can guide departments, engage staff, work collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams, and bring a can-do approach to a community hospital team that values learning and growth.

• Minimum of 2 years of progressive management experience in a clinical setting.
• Minimum of 2 years of clinical experience in the specialty area.
• Current RN license issued and/or recognized by the State Board of Nursing for the state of employment.
• American Heart Association BLS required.
• For ED leadership: AHA ACLS and PALS required; NIHSS required within 10 days of hire.
• For ICU leadership: AHA ACLS required; NIHSS required within 10 days of hire.
• Workplace Violence and MAB required within 10 days of hire and annually thereafter.
• Area-specific certification preferred.
• Strong critical thinking, interpersonal communication, organizational skills, PC skills, and the ability to work independently under pressure while placing patients and families first.

Compensation

Salary Range: $145,225.60 to $213,532.80 USD

• 2026 benefits eligibility begins the first of the month after 30 days of continuous employment for full-time employees working at least 30 hours per week and part-time employees working at least 24 hours per week.
• Five medical plan options, including HMO, EPO, and PPO Silver, Gold, and Platinum options; Silver PPO includes an HSA.
• Virtual care through Teladoc Health or LiveHealth Online, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
• Dental DHMO or DPPO, voluntary VSP vision, company-paid life and AD&D at 1x base annual salary up to $50,000, disability options, FSAs, EAP, 401(k), PPT, and voluntary benefits including critical illness, hospital indemnity, accident, legal, and life with LTC.