Nursing Director - Emergency Department

Nursing Director – Emergency Department Location: Detroit, MI Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire Schedule: Day Shift | 24/7 Availability for Call Salary: $118,000–$177,000 annually, based on years of experience Bonus: Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) Bonus Eligibility Relocation Assistance: Available based on location and distance

Position Overview Wheeler Staffing Partners is seeking an experienced Nursing Director – Emergency Department for a leadership opportunity in Detroit, MI. This position provides strategic, clinical, operational, and financial leadership for Emergency Department nursing services within a 24/7 Level III Trauma Center and verified Primary Stroke Center. Reporting to senior nursing leadership, the Nursing Director will oversee clinical practice, patient care quality, staffing, employee development, regulatory compliance, departmental operations, and financial performance. This leader will partner closely with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing leadership, and multidisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and the overall patient experience. The ideal candidate is an experienced Registered Nurse leader with a strong background in Emergency Department, emergency services, trauma, or acute care nursing leadership and a demonstrated ability to lead complex clinical operations.

Key Responsibilities

Emergency Department & Clinical Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for Emergency Department nursing services within a 24-hour acute care environment.
• Direct nursing operations through managers, supervisors, and other subordinate leadership personnel.
• Maintain high standards of emergency nursing practice, patient safety, clinical quality, and patient-centered care.
• Partner with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing staff, and other clinical leaders to strengthen collaborative care delivery.
• Evaluate and improve clinical workflows and care-delivery processes to enhance patient outcomes, safety, throughput, and satisfaction.
• Support clinical operations associated with Level III Trauma Center and Primary Stroke Center services.
• Promote evidence-based nursing practices and consistent standards of care throughout the department.

Staffing & Team Development

• Oversee staffing strategies, recruitment, retention, scheduling, resource allocation, and workforce planning.
• Develop nursing leaders and clinical staff through education, coaching, mentoring, leadership opportunities, and career advancement initiatives.
• Promote a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, professional development, and employee engagement.
• Identify staffing and resource needs to maintain appropriate coverage and support safe patient care.
• Support succession planning and professional development throughout nursing leadership.

Quality, Regulatory & Compliance

• Develop and implement departmental policies, procedures, goals, and nursing standards in accordance with organizational requirements and accepted healthcare practices.
• Ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws, licensing requirements, accreditation standards, regulatory requirements, and organizational policies.
• Participate in quality improvement, patient safety, administrative, and clinical committees.
• Identify opportunities to improve quality, productivity, operational effectiveness, and issue resolution.
• Implement applicable internal and external audit recommendations.
• Maintain an environment that supports legal, ethical, professional, and organizational standards of conduct.
• Support systemwide quality and continuous improvement initiatives.

Financial & Operational Management

• Develop, manage, and monitor departmental operating budgets.
• Review financial performance and implement strategies to improve resource utilization and operational efficiency.
• Balance staffing and operational requirements with quality, patient care, financial, and organizational objectives.
• Collaborate with service line leaders to deliver multidisciplinary patient services within established budget, quality, regulatory, and customer service expectations.
• Identify opportunities to improve departmental productivity and overall organizational effectiveness.

Strategic & Executive Leadership

• Partner with senior nursing leadership and executive leadership on strategic planning and organizational initiatives.
• Collaborate with nursing executives on patient education, clinical standards, staff education, training, and patient care policies.
• Participate in senior leadership activities, administrative committees, quality committees, and applicable Board-level committees.
• Support systemwide initiatives and organizational improvement efforts.
• Provide leadership and recommendations related to Emergency Department operations, nursing practice, workforce needs, quality, and patient care.

Required Qualifications

• Master's degree in Nursing, Business Administration, Healthcare Administration, or a related field required.
• Of the candidate's two academic degrees, at least one degree must be in Nursing.
• Current and unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of Michigan required.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant nursing and leadership experience, which may include concurrent clinical experience and progressively responsible nursing management experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading nursing operations within an acute care healthcare environment.
• Strong knowledge of nursing practice, patient safety, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, staffing, budgeting, and healthcare operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and collaborate effectively with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing leaders, and executive leadership.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Excellent leadership, communication, decision-making, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to provide leadership support and availability within a 24/7 Emergency Department environment, including call responsibilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• Emergency Department or Emergency Services nursing leadership experience.
• Experience within a trauma center, high-volume Emergency Department, or complex acute care hospital environment.
• Experience supporting trauma and stroke programs.
• Nursing specialty certification related to the position.
• Certification Requirement Certification in an applicable nursing specialty is preferred upon hire and required within one year of employment.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, and life insurance.
• 401(k) retirement savings plan with employer match.
• Generous paid time off (PTO).
• Career development and continuing education opportunities.
• Health Savings Account (HSA).
• Healthcare and dependent care Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA).
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• Employee discount programs.
• Voluntary benefits, including pet insurance, legal insurance, accident and critical illness coverage, long-term care, elder and childcare resources, and auto and home insurance.
• Relocation assistance may be available based on candidate location and distance.