Travel Nurse RN - Director of Nursing
Lake Charles, LA
Encode INC
5x8 hrs, Days, Evenings, Nights
Referral Bonus

Job Title: Director of Nursing (DON)

Location: Louisiana
Job Type: Full-Time
Setting: Acute Care Hospital

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced Director of Nursing (DON) to lead nursing operations within an acute care hospital. The Director of Nursing is responsible for providing 24-hour leadership, ensuring high-quality patient care, managing departmental operations, maintaining regulatory compliance, and driving staff development while supporting the hospital's mission and strategic goals.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for nursing services and daily operations.
• Develop, implement, and enforce departmental policies and procedures.
• Manage staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation.
• Develop and monitor departmental budgets.
• Ensure compliance with licensing, accreditation, and mandatory education requirements.
• Lead performance improvement initiatives and promote patient safety.
• Coach, mentor, and evaluate nursing staff.
• Collaborate with physicians, executive leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and service excellence.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) required; MSN preferred.
• Minimum 3 years of leadership experience as a Charge Nurse, Unit Coordinator, or similar nursing leadership role in an acute care hospital.
• Active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Louisiana or Compact State License.
• Current BLS/CPR certification; ACLS/PALS as required by hospital policy.
• Strong leadership, communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Proficiency with computer systems and electronic medical records.

Preferred Skills

• Acute care leadership experience.
• Budget management and operational planning.
• Staff development and performance management.
• Regulatory compliance knowledge (Joint Commission/CMS).
• Excellent interpersonal and conflict-resolution skills.

Work Environment

• Acute Care Hospital
• Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays, and on-call responsibilities as needed.
• Fast-paced environment requiring strong leadership and decision-making abilities.

Keywords: Director of Nursing, DON, Nurse Director, Nursing Leadership, RN Manager, Acute Care, Hospital Leadership, Nursing Administration, BSN, MSN, Louisiana RN, Patient Care Services.