RN - Director of Nursing (DON)

Elderwood; Town of Lancaster (NY); On-site; USD 149,000 - 182,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off and holiday pay

Tuition assistance and scholarshipOp​p

Employee referral bonus program

Job summary

Elderwood at Lancaster is seeking a Director of Nursing (DON) to lead clinical operations, nursing practice, workforce development, and quality outcomes across a 96-bed skilled nursing community in Lancaster, NY. The DON will set expectations for clinical excellence, strengthen systems of accountability, and ensure residents receive high-quality coordinated care.

This executive nursing leadership role reports to the facility administrator and partners with Medical Director and interdisciplinary

Qualifications

• Active New York State Registered Nurse license.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory nursing leadership experience.
• Strong knowledge of clinical operations, regulatory requirements, quality measures, and survey readiness.
• Effective communication, organization, decision-making, and team-development skills.

Responsibilities

• Direct nursing operations and clinical services across all shifts.
• Provide leadership for nursing staffing, scheduling, onboarding, retention, and workforce planning.
• Establish clear expectations for nursing practice, communication, follow-through, and accountability.
• Coach and develop nurse managers, supervisors, and clinical staff.
• Build a nursing culture centered on resident safety, professional standards, teamwork, and dependable care.

Skills

Nursing leadership

Regulatory knowledge

Communication

Decision making

Team development

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Nursing

Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration

Job description

Director of Nursing (DON) - Skilled Nursing

Full-Time Executive Nursing Leadership

Salary

Up to $165,000 / Year

Elderwood at Lancaster | Lancaster, NY

Lead the Clinical Direction of a 96-Bed Skilled Nursing Community

Elderwood at Lancaster is seeking an experienced Director of Nursing (DON) to lead clinical operations, nursing practice, workforce development, and quality outcomes across our skilled nursing and rehabilitation community.

This is an opportunity for an accomplished RN leader to have a direct and visible impact. You will set expectations for clinical excellence, build the capabilities of nursing leaders, strengthen systems of accountability, and ensure residents receive coordinated, high-quality care.

Elderwood at Lancaster provides skilled nursing, long-term care, short-term rehabilitation, and memory care. Our clinical programs support residents with a range of long-term and post-acute needs, including cardiac, orthopedic, and post-surgical rehabilitation.

Executive Nursing Leadership - With Support Behind You

The Director of Nursing is a key member of the facility leadership team and a strategic partner to the Administrator. You will work closely with the Medical Director, pharmacy partners, rehabilitation, department leaders, and the interdisciplinary care team.

You will also have access to organizational clinical resources, including Clinical Nurse Consultants supporting the Chief Nursing Officer’s team. This structure provides an additional layer of clinical expertise, consultation, and support as you advance quality, regulatory readiness, and nursing practice.

This is not leadership from a distance. You will be visible to residents and staff, engaged in the daily operation, and directly involved in developing the nursing leaders who carry clinical standards forward across every shift.

What Makes Elderwood at Lancaster Distinctive?

• Leadership responsibility for a 96-bed skilled nursing and rehabilitation community.
• A diverse clinical environment that includes long-term care, memory care, and subacute rehabilitation.
• Direct partnership with the Administrator and interdisciplinary leadership team.
• Access to organizational clinical support, including Clinical Nurse Consultants.
• The opportunity to shape nursing practice, staff development, regulatory performance, and resident outcomes.
• A close-knit community where leadership presence and follow-through are visible.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary up to $165,000
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Tuition assistance and scholarship opportunities
• Employee referral bonus programProfessional development and career advancement opportunities

Advance Your Nursing Leadership Career in Eastern Erie County

Elderwood at Lancaster is located near the historic Village of Lancaster and is convenient to nursing leaders throughout Lancaster, Depew, Alden, Marilla, Elma, Clarence, Harris Hill, Akron, Darien Center, Corfu, Pembroke, Batavia, and the surrounding eastern Erie and western Genesee County communities.

If you are an experienced RN leader prepared to strengthen clinical systems, develop nursing teams, and take meaningful ownership of quality and resident care, we invite you to consider the Director of Nursing opportunity at Elderwood at Lancaster

Responsibilities

What You Will Lead and Own

Nursing Operations and Workforce

• Direct nursing operations and clinical services across all shifts.
• Provide leadership for nursing staffing, scheduling, onboarding, retention, and workforce planning.
• Establish clear expectations for nursing practice, communication, follow-through, and accountability.
• Coach and develop nurse managers, supervisors, and clinical staff.
• Build a nursing culture centered on resident safety, professional standards, teamwork, and dependable care.

Clinical Quality and Resident Outcomes

• Oversee assessment, care planning, documentation, and the delivery of high-quality nursing care.
• Monitor clinical performance, identify areas requiring intervention, and lead sustainable improvement efforts.
• Strengthen communication and coordination among nursing, medical providers, rehabilitation, pharmacy, and other disciplines.
• Promote resident-centered care that protects dignity, choice, independence, and quality of life.
• Ensure clinically significant changes are recognized, communicated, and addressed appropriately.

Compliance and Regulatory Readiness

• Maintain compliance with federal, state, and local requirements governing skilled nursing and long-term care.
• Lead ongoing survey readiness and support the development and execution of plans of correction when needed.
• Participate in Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement initiatives.
• Maintain systems that support complete, accurate, and timely clinical documentation.
• Use quality measures and operational information to guide priorities and strengthen outcomes.

Leadership and Clinical Development

• Design and support nursing orientation, in-service education, and ongoing clinical training.
• Evaluate the performance and development needs of nursing leaders and staff.
• Partner with facility and organizational leadership on clinical priorities, workforce challenges, and improvement strategies.
• Support the development of internal nursing talent and future clinical leaders.
• May serve as Program Coordinator for the Nursing Assistant Training Program.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Active New York State Registered Nurse license.
• Minimum of two years of supervisory nursing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead teams, manage change, and improve clinical or operational outcomes.
• Strong knowledge of clinical operations, regulatory requirements, quality measures, and survey readiness.
• Effective communication, organization, decision-making, and team-development skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous Director of Nursing or Assistant Director of Nursing experience.
• Nursing leadership experience in skilled nursing or long-term care.
• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing or Healthcare Administration.
• Experience working with older adults or within a geriatric care environment.

EOE Statement

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. Applicants and employees are considered for positions and are evaluated without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.