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Director of Nursing Jobs Overview
The director of nursing (DON) — sometimes called the executive director of nursing or the director of nursing operations — supervises the entire nursing department of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or other healthcare facility. This top-level administrative role comes with many responsibilities that will vary depending on the facility, but can include overseeing all nursing professionals and operations, acting as a liaison between nursing staff and other departments, reviewing policies and procedures, managing expenses, and more.
IntelyCare can help you find DON jobs and assistant director of nursing (ADON) jobs that fulfill your career goals. You can also have a look at similar roles such as CNO jobs and nurse manager jobs. Get started today.
Education and Certifications for a DON Job
To qualify for director of nursing positions, it’s expected that you will have worked as a nurse for a number of years in addition to holding nurse management roles. Employers may prefer a candidate that has an advanced degree — either a master of science in nursing (MSN) or a doctor of nursing practice (DNP).
To stand out in the applicant pool, you may want to pursue credentials such as:
- Certified director of nursing (CDONA)
- Director of nursing services certification (DNS-CT)
- Nurse executive certification (NE-BC or NEA-BC)
- Certified nurse manager and leader (CNML)
- Clinical nurse leader (CNL) certification
Resume and Cover Letter for Director or Nursing Positions
Make sure to tailor each resume and cover letter to a specific DON job ad. For instance, if a hospital is looking to hire a DON to “plan and execute all activities related to staffing, including hiring, orienting, evaluating, and continuing education initiatives” and you have relevant experience, include the phrase on your resume, and expound on your successes in that area on your cover letter.
Need help with your application materials? Our sample director of nursing resume and cover letter offer clear guidelines on the content and formatting that employers may be hoping to see.
Interviewing for DON Jobs
In this and other executive healthcare roles, you’re expected to have exceptional people skills. Demonstrate your communication know-how during the job interview by taking ample time to prepare in advance. Review common director of nursing interview questions and craft your answers with both nurses and patients in mind. Be sure your words and demeanor reflect the values and mission of the facility at which you are interviewing.
Director of Nursing Salary
The Bureau of Labor Statistics doesn’t track salary data for a director of nursing job. However, the role can be considered a type of medical and health services manager, whose annual average salary is $134,440. Base salaries can be influenced by your years of experience, education and certifications, employer, and location. To see what director of nursing jobs’ salary expectations are in your area, click on some of the current jobs on IntelyCare.
Explore Director of Nursing Jobs on IntelyCare
Take a look at all the open director of nursing positions and assistant director of nursing positions available right now. Want additional options? Learn how IntelyCare can match you with even more nursing jobs that interest you.