Join Our Leadership Team
Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation is looking for an experienced and compassionate Director of Nursing (DON) to lead our nursing team and help us continue building a culture centered on quality care, accountability, teamwork, and respect.
This is an opportunity for a strong nurse leader who wants to make a meaningful impact—not only in the lives of our residents, but also in the experience of the employees who care for them every day. We are looking for someone who can balance clinical excellence and regulatory compliance with the equally important work of developing people, strengthening systems, and creating a nursing department where employees feel supported and proud of the care they provide.
As Director of Nursing, you will work closely with the Administrator and interdisciplinary leadership team and have a significant voice in the direction and success of the facility. If you are an approachable, organized leader who enjoys developing teams, solving problems, and improving resident outcomes, we would love to speak with you.
Position Summary
The Director of Nursing is responsible for the overall leadership, management, and clinical oversight of the facility's nursing services. The DON ensures that residents receive high-quality nursing care consistent with their assessed needs, individualized plans of care, professional standards of practice, and applicable federal and Montana requirements.
The DON provides leadership to nursing management and direct-care staff, oversees clinical systems and quality initiatives, supports appropriate staffing and competency, and works collaboratively with the Administrator, Medical Director, providers, therapy, social services, dietary, pharmacy, and other members of the interdisciplinary team.
Essential Duties and ResponsibilitiesNursing Leadership & Operations
- Provide leadership and direction for all nursing services within the facility.
- Supervise, support, and develop nursing leadership, including the ADON, unit managers, charge nurses, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, and other nursing personnel as applicable.
- Establish clear expectations for clinical performance, professionalism, communication, documentation, and resident care.
- Promote a positive nursing culture focused on teamwork, accountability, resident-centered care, and employee development.
- Participate in recruitment, interviewing, hiring, orientation, retention, coaching, and performance management of nursing personnel.
- Maintain effective communication between nursing staff, facility leadership, residents, families, providers, and other departments.
- Participate in the facility's leadership and operational planning.
Clinical Oversight & Resident Care
- Ensure nursing services are provided in accordance with resident assessments, physician/provider orders, care plans, and accepted standards of nursing practice.
- Monitor changes in resident condition and ensure appropriate assessment, provider notification, interventions, documentation, and follow-up.
- Oversee clinical systems involving falls, wounds, infections, medications, weight changes, behaviors, hospital transfers, pain management, accidents/incidents, and other high-risk areas.
- Participate in clinical review of residents with significant changes in condition or elevated risk.
- Ensure appropriate communication and follow-up following hospitalizations, emergency department visits, new orders, diagnostic testing, and changes in treatment.
- Promote resident rights, dignity, choice, and quality of life while maintaining a safe care environment.
Regulatory Compliance & Survey Readiness
- Ensure nursing services operate in compliance with applicable CMS requirements, Montana requirements, facility policies, and professional standards.
- Maintain ongoing survey readiness throughout the nursing department.
- Participate in state and federal surveys and other regulatory inspections.
- Assist in developing and implementing plans of correction when necessary.
- Ensure identified deficiencies or areas of risk are promptly investigated and corrected.
- Oversee appropriate reporting and investigation of accidents, injuries, allegations of abuse or neglect, significant incidents, and other reportable events.
- Ensure nursing staff understand and follow requirements related to abuse prevention, resident rights, accident prevention, infection prevention, quality of care, and quality of life.
Quality Assurance & Performance Improvement
- Actively participate in and provide nursing leadership to the facility's Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) program.
- Analyze clinical trends and outcomes to identify opportunities for improvement.
- Develop and monitor corrective actions and performance improvement initiatives.
- Participate in root-cause analysis and interdisciplinary review of significant clinical events.
- Monitor quality indicators such as falls, pressure injuries, infections, hospitalizations, weight loss, medication events, and other relevant clinical outcomes.
- Use data and clinical findings to drive sustainable improvements rather than relying solely on reactive correction.
Staffing & Staff Development
- Work with facility leadership to maintain adequate nursing staffing based on resident census, acuity, and care needs.
- Monitor staffing patterns, overtime, agency utilization, attendance, and nursing department productivity.
- Ensure nursing personnel possess appropriate licenses, certifications, competencies, and training for their assigned responsibilities.
- Support orientation and ongoing education for nursing personnel.
- Identify educational needs based on clinical outcomes, audits, incidents, survey findings, and observed staff performance.
- Promote leadership development and succession planning within the nursing department.
Care Planning & Documentation
- Ensure nursing assessments and documentation accurately reflect resident condition and services provided.
- Support timely and comprehensive development and revision of resident care plans.
- Ensure changes in condition, risks, preferences, and interventions are appropriately incorporated into the resident's plan of care.
- Collaborate with MDS and interdisciplinary staff to support accurate assessment, care planning, and documentation.
- Conduct or oversee nursing audits and implement corrective action when documentation or care concerns are identified.
Infection Prevention & Safety
- Work collaboratively with the Infection Preventionist to maintain an effective infection prevention and control program.
- Support surveillance, prevention, education, and response activities related to communicable diseases and healthcare-associated infections.
- Promote compliance with infection control practices, including hand hygiene, PPE, transmission-based precautions, and appropriate antibiotic stewardship.
- Maintain a nursing environment focused on resident and employee safety.
Resident & Family Relations
- Maintain professional and respectful relationships with residents and their representatives.
- Respond promptly to nursing-related concerns and grievances.
- Participate in care conferences and meetings with residents and families as appropriate.
- Promote transparent communication and timely resolution of concerns.
- Support residents' rights to participate in decisions regarding their care and treatment.
Qualifications
Required:
- Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license in Montana, or eligibility to obtain Montana licensure as required for the position.
- Nursing experience demonstrating strong clinical judgment and leadership ability.
- Knowledge of nursing standards of practice and resident-centered care.
- Strong organizational, communication, problem-solving, and leadership skills.
- Ability to effectively supervise, coach, and develop nursing personnel.
- Ability to respond appropriately to clinical and operational issues in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Preferred:
- Previous Director of Nursing, Assistant Director of Nursing, Unit Manager, or comparable nursing leadership experience.
- Previous experience in a skilled nursing facility, long-term care, post-acute care, or similar setting.
- Working knowledge of CMS nursing facility requirements and the survey process.
- Experience with QAPI, clinical risk management, incident investigation, staffing management, and performance improvement.
- Experience with electronic health records and clinical quality systems.
Core Leadership Expectations
The successful Director of Nursing will be expected to:
- Lead by example and maintain a visible, approachable presence throughout the facility.
- Support the nursing team while maintaining clear expectations and accountability.
- Develop people, recognizing that strong resident outcomes depend on a well-trained and engaged workforce.
- Communicate early and effectively when clinical, staffing, or regulatory concerns arise.
- Solve problems at their root cause rather than relying on temporary fixes.
- Use sound clinical judgment and know when additional resources or expertise are needed.
- Collaborate across departments and recognize that quality resident care is an interdisciplinary responsibility.
- Maintain high standards while treating residents, families, and employees with professionalism and respect.
Why Mountain View?
At Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation, we believe great resident care starts with great people. Our goal is to give our Director of Nursing the support, resources, and partnership necessary to build a strong nursing department and make lasting improvements.
We are looking for a DON who wants to be part of the leadership team—not simply manage a department. If you are passionate about developing employees, improving systems, strengthening clinical outcomes, and creating an environment where residents and staff can thrive, we invite you to apply and learn more about joining Mountain View Health and Rehabilitation.
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
