Nursing Director – Permanent Placement

HiredFirst; Tahlequah (OK); On-site; USD 130,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

HiredFirst is seeking an experienced Nursing Director to lead nursing operations for Cherokee Nation facilities in Tahlequah, OK. This executive role oversees standards, patient care quality, staffing, and cross-department collaboration across a large tribal health system.

The Nursing Director serves as the senior nursing authority, driving excellence in care delivery, regulatory compliance, and alignment of nursing services with organizational goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• Ten years of experience in a related field.
• Active RN license required by Oklahoma Board of Nursing or Compact RN.
• BLS certification within 90 days of hire.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership for nursing care services across Cherokee Nation facilities.
• Ensure compliance with OBP Practice Act and CNHS standards.
• Coordinate nursing with other clinical and operational units.
• Develop and implement systems to monitor nursing operations and patient flow.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic management

Decision making

Planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Location: Tahlequah, OK
Facility: Cherokee Nation – WW Hastings Hospital & Outpatient Health
Salary Range: $130,000 – $165,000 annually
Agency: HiredFirst
Perm Placement Fee: 18% of annual salary
Occupational Category: Health Services (Revised 03/16/2025)

Position Overview

HiredFirst is seeking an experienced and highly strategic Nursing Director to lead nursing operations in Tahlequah Oklahoma within Hospital and Outpatient Health programs. This executive-level role oversees nursing standards, patient care quality, staffing operations, and cross-departmental collaboration across a large tribal health system.

The Nursing Director is the senior nursing authority within the facility, responsible for driving excellence in care delivery, regulatory compliance, and the alignment of nursing services.

Key Responsibilities

Provide executive leadership for all nursing care services across assigned Cherokee Nation facilities.

Oversee scope, quality, and quantity of all provided health services in alignment facility policies.

Maintain compliance with the Oklahoma Board of Nursing (OBN) Practice Act and CNHS standards.

Ensure effective coordination between nursing departments and other clinical and operational units.

Establish and uphold nursing standards across all facilities.

Maintain strong collaboration with medical directors and medical staff leadership to ensure seamless patient transitions throughout the care continuum.

Analyze staffing needs, allocate resources appropriately, and adjust staffing operations as needed for optimal patient care.

Conduct supervisor and staff meetings to communicate expectations, policies, and performance standards.

Ensure adherence to accreditation standards and national nursing practice guidelines.

Develop and implement systems that monitor nursing operations to identify trends, performance deviations, and unusual cases promptly.

Provide guidance and direction to subordinate management teams and nursing staff.

Participate in system-wide strategic planning, coordination, and execution of nursing policies and procedures.

Implement actions to maintain benchmark standards for staffing, productivity, scheduling, triage, and patient flow.

Oversee compliance with Cherokee Nation Human Resources policies and other applicable federal, state, and tribal regulations.

Maintain accurate, compliant records according to retention rules.

Ensure confidentiality and security of all patient information and health records in compliance with state and federal regulations.

Perform additional duties as assigned.

Level of Responsibility

Senior leader with extensive experience across large-scale clinical operations.

Leads a major department and contributes to system-level strategy and planning.

Manages up to 5 supervisors, indirectly overseeing 100+ nursing staff.

Full responsibility for hiring, training, performance management, scheduling, and staff development.

Handles complex employee relations, compliance, and operational challenges.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required (no substitutions).

Ten (10) years of experience in a related field.

Valid driver’s license with an MVR that meets underwriting requirements.

Proven leadership and strategic management capability.

Strong decision-making and planning skills.

High level of detail orientation and professional attentiveness.

Strong customer/patient service orientation.

Physical Requirements

Frequent standing, walking, sitting, reaching, and handling.

Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, climb, and balance.

Ability to lift:

10 lbs regularly

25 lbs frequently

50 lbs occasionally

May require additional physical or respiratory fit testing.

Licenses & Certifications

Active RN license from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing or a Compact RN license recognized by Oklahoma.

BLS required within 90 days of hire (must maintain).

ACL…

Other Requirements

Must not be listed on any federal or tribal exclusion lists (OIG, GSA, LEIE, etc.).

Must meet pre-employment and periodic background investigation requirements for positions involving child care.