We are excited to announce an opening for the Director of Nursing Excellence Professional Practice at Kaweah Health. This is a pivotal leadership role within the organization, offering a unique opportunity to significantly impact the nursing profession at a large teaching hospital.

Company Overview:

Kaweah Health is a 613-bed healthcare district dedicated to serving the community. Their campus is extensive, encompassing multiple service lines including Behavioral Health, Rehab, Skilled Nursing, CVICU, ICU, and NICU, and they boast a strong pipeline for new nurses.

Position Overview:

Here at Peak Recruiter we are seeking a highly experienced and transformational leader to fill the role of Director of Nursing Excellence and Professional Practice. This individual will be instrumental in guiding nursing professional practice, driving improvement in nursing quality, and fostering professional development. The ideal candidate will thrive in a dynamic environment and contribute to our ongoing organizational transformation.

We are looking for a candidate with a professional presence, strong critical thinking, and excellent communication skills. The ideal candidate will be able to cultivate a positive work environment, demonstrate strategic thinking, and be highly collaborative and team-oriented.

Experience with nursing shared governance, clinical ladders, nursing professional development to support nurse certification, nursing school affiliations, and leading Magnet and Pathway to Excellence initiatives is highly advantageous. We are particularly interested in candidates who are members of associations such as the Association of Nurse Leaders or the Association of Nurse Executives.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Director will lead and support the engagement and integration of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), Nurse Practitioners, and Clinical Nurse Specialists into high-quality, collaborative care models. This role involves designing, implementing, and managing a comprehensive nursing excellence strategy, aligning with national standards such as Magnet or Pathway to Excellence frameworks.

The Director will guide the organization through recognition processes, including document development and site visit preparation. Monitoring and analyzing nursing-sensitive quality indicators, implementing data-driven strategies to improve patient outcomes, and overseeing the development of programs to build nursing knowledge and leadership capacity are also key responsibilities.

Additionally, this position supports nursing-led research and innovation, manages budgets for nursing excellence, and ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.

Key Qualifications and Skills:

To succeed in this role, candidates must possess a CA RN license and be NEA or NEA-BC certified. A minimum of seven years of progressive leadership experience in professional nursing practice, quality improvement, or Magnet/Pathway designation is required, along with demonstrated success in leading interdisciplinary teams and improving nursing and patient care outcomes.

Preferred qualifications include a Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or a related field, or a Doctorate in Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD, as well as certification in Nursing Professional Development (NPD-BC) or Quality (CPHQ).

Team and Reporting Structure:

The Director of Nursing Excellence Professional Practice will report directly to the CNO. This role will involve close collaboration with the Education Department, Infection Prevention, and Nursing School Affiliations.

Key Priorities in the First Six Months:

The top priorities for this role in the first six months include guiding nursing professional practice with a focus on achieving Magnet recognition or Pathway to Excellence, establishing and developing shared governance, and implementing a professional practice model.

The Director will also be responsible for driving nursing professional development, raising the bar for nursing excellence, increasing certified nurses, and collaborating with nursing school affiliations. Improving patient care and safety metrics, such as reducing falls, medication error rates, CAUTI, and CLABSI, in partnership with infection prevention, will also be a critical focus.

Challenges and Opportunities:

This role offers a significant opportunity to positively impact the profession of nursing at Kaweah Health, a large teaching hospital with approximately 130 residents.

Key Performance Indicators for this role include improvements in patient care and safety metrics, reduction in staff turnover rates, an increase in the number of nurses achieving certification, and higher employee engagement scores. Active engagement in shared governance, progress on the Magnet journey or Pathway to Excellence initiatives, and the successful development and implementation of a professional practice model are also crucial for success.

Kaweah Health is committed to professional development and advancement, supporting continuous improvement in nursing practice and quality, with an emphasis on nurse certification and strong partnerships with numerous nursing school affiliations.

If you are passionate about leading nursing excellence and meet the above qualifications, we encourage you to apply and explore joining our clients team at Kaweah Health.