Chief Nursing Officer

Minimum Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in Nursing or related healthcare field required; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), PhD, or equivalent degree strongly preferred.
• Current, active RN license in New Jersey and/or Multistate license required.
• Certification in nursing leadership (ANCC or CENP) preferred within 1 year of hire or transfer.
• Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, with at least 5 years at the executive level in a complex, multi-entity healthcare organization.

 

POSITION SUMMARY

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Vice President, Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is a critical nursing executive who provides strategic operational, and clinical leadership for nursing practice across assigned entities within the health system. Reporting directly to the Chief Nurse Executive (CNE), the CNO is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of nursing care, advancing professional practice, and supporting systemwide nursing initiatives aligned with the enterprise nursing strategic plan.

 

The CNO partners closely with operational, medical, and system nursing leaders to drive clinical excellence, improve patient outcomes, and cultivate high-performing nursing workforce and culture. This role requires a forward-thinking, inclusive, and collaborative leader who is passionate about innovation in care delivery and elevating the voice of nursing across the system.

 

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the nursing executive for assigned hospital(s) or service lines, providing strategic and operational leadership for nursing services.
• Partner with the CNE to implement the enterprise-wide nursing strategic plan, ensuring alignment with the health system’s mission, vision and values.
• Lead initiatives focused on clinical quality, patient safety, patient experience, and operational performance, in collaboration with medical and administrative leaders. Develop and sustain high-performing nursing teams through workforce planning, leadership development, engagement strategies, and professional practice advancement.
• Support and contribute to system-level nursing goals such as Magnet® designation, shared governance, nursing informatics, and evidence-based practice implementation.
• Ensure nursing operations remain in full compliance with local, state, and federal regulatory requirements and accreditation standards (e.g., CMS, Joint Commission).
• Establish a culture of accountability, collaboration, and compassion, with a strong emphasis on health equity, staff well-being, and a just culture environment.
• Lead and oversee the development of operational budgets, staffing models, and resource planning for nursing services across assigned areas.
• Actively engage in system committees, councils, and initiatives as a representative of nursing and a trusted partner to the CNE and other senior executives.
• Promote collaboration between nursing, medical staff, and interprofessional teams to ensure coordinated, high-quality, and patient-centered care.

 

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

 

EDUCATION:  Master’s degree in Nursing or related healthcare field required; Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), PhD, or equivalent degree strongly preferred.

 

LICENSE/CERTIFICATION:

• Current, active RN license in New Jersey and/or Multistate license required.
• Certification in nursing leadership (ANCC or CENP) preferred within 1 year of hire or transfer.

 

EXPERIENCE:  

• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive nursing leadership experience, with at least 5 years at the executive level in a complex, multi-entity healthcare organization.
• Demonstrated success in leading high-performing teams, improving nursing outcomes, and driving system-level change.
• Strong knowledge of nursing regulatory standards, clinical operations, and best practices in acute and post-acute care.
• Experience with Magnet® designation or other professional nursing excellence frameworks preferred.
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