Director Nursing – Psychiatry and Emergency Services

Overview

Are you a visionary nursing leader with a passion for psychiatric care and emergency medicine? Join the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center and Academic Medical Center, set in the beautiful, rural heart of New England. Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) is seeking a Director of Nursing to lead psychiatric and emergency nursing operations across inpatient, emergency, and ambulatory settings.

In this pivotal role, you'll shape the future of emergency and psychiatric care delivery—partnering closely with clinical and administrative leaders to ensure exceptional, evidence-based care across DHMC and affiliated entities. With direct impact on care quality, staffing, training, and strategic program development, this is a unique opportunity to elevate nursing practice in a nationally recognized health system that values innovation, compassion, and professional growth.

Bring your leadership expertise, psychiatric and emergency nursing background, and commitment to excellence to a place where your voice matters—and where your work transforms lives.

Responsibilities

Directs, coordinates and evaluates clinical operations and is responsible for the operational management of nursing in the inpatient, emergency, and ambulatory settings at DHMC and externally DHMC contracted entities that perform psychiatric nursing services. Ensures that all nursing activities comply with budgetary, regulatory and accreditation requirements. Responsible for planning, organization, and administration of nursing operations to include staffing, training, and documentation to maintain the highest quality patient care standards.

Provides leadership accountability and oversight for nursing practice and strategies supporting nurses in the delivery of exceptional patient care for psychiatric patients receiving psychiatric care at DHMC and in externally DHMC contracted entities.

Collaborates with administrative and medical leadership in the implementation of programs and services.

Collaborates with administrative and medical leadership to ensure the provision of safe, effective, high quality and cost-effective patient care.

Provides nursing leadership, direction, and recognition of professional staff through the advancement of continuous learning and improvement of nursing services.

Participates in the review of patient satisfaction data and comments and shares with team members. Implements activities to improve the patient and family experience. Addresses any complaints or concerns. Reviews team member engagement data annually and implements activities to improve engagement. Evaluates turnover risks and implements strategies to reduce turnover.

Leads within the framework of shared governance/distributed decision-making, empowering nurses to make decisions regarding nursing practice issues.

Participates in leadership activities such as committees, professional organizations, publishing, teaching, and research.

Reviews and make recommendations on policy issues in order to align with the organizational and strategic direction.

Performs other duties as required or assigned.

Qualifications

• Graduate from accredited nursing institution required.
• Master’s Degree in Psychiatric Nursing is required as well as experience in direct patient care.
• A minimum of 5 years of progressively responsible management experience in nursing.
• Certification in a nursing specialty is strongly preferred as is continuing professional education and participation in professional organizations.

Required Licensure/Certifications

• Licensed RN in the state of NH