Nursing Director Emergency Services

Nursing Director – Emergency Services

Location: Joshua Tree, CA

Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire

Work Environment: Acute Care Hospital | Emergency Department | Level IV Trauma Center

Salary: $138,000–$200,000 annually (based on experience)

Additional Compensation: Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) bonus eligible

Sign-On Bonus: Available

Relocation Assistance: Available

Schedule: Day Shift | Monday–Friday, with flexibility based on departmental needs

Leadership Responsibility: 24/7 availability for emergency department operations and on-call needs

Reports To: Chief Nursing Officer / Chief Operating Officer (CNO/COO)

Employment Classification: Exempt Position

Overview

Wheeler Staffing Partners is seeking an experienced Nursing Director – Emergency Services for a direct-hire opportunity with an acute care hospital in Joshua Tree, CA. The Nursing Director will provide clinical, operational, and strategic leadership for a 24/7 Emergency Department, ensuring high-quality patient care, regulatory compliance, efficient departmental operations, and strong staff performance.

This opportunity is with a 59-bed acute care hospital offering comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, including emergency care, diagnostic services, rehabilitation, home health, hospice, and community outreach programs. The facility operates as a Level IV Trauma Center and Stroke Ready Receiving Center.

The ideal candidate is an experienced Emergency Department Nurse Manager or Director with a strong background in emergency nursing, clinical leadership, staff development, patient safety, and hospital operations. Candidates must have previous Emergency Department management or director-level experience, along with at least 7 years of emergency nursing experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Emergency Department Leadership & Operations
  • Provide overall leadership and operational oversight for the Emergency Department, ensuring safe, efficient, and high-quality patient care.
  • Maintain 24/7 leadership accountability for emergency department operations, staffing, and patient care standards.
  • Direct daily departmental workflows, staffing assignments, patient care coordination, and resource allocation.
  • Collaborate with the CNO/COO and hospital leadership to align departmental operations with organizational goals and strategic initiatives.
  • Establish, implement, and enforce departmental policies, procedures, performance standards, and operational objectives.
  • Ensure effective communication and coordination among emergency nursing staff, physicians, hospital leadership, and interdisciplinary departments.
  • Monitor departmental performance and implement process improvements to enhance patient care, efficiency, and operational effectiveness.
  • Provide direct clinical support and work on the floor when required to meet departmental needs.
• Clinical Quality, Patient Safety & Regulatory Compliance
  • Ensure compliance with The Joint Commission (JCAHO), CMS, California Title 22, and applicable healthcare regulatory standards.
  • Implement and monitor hospital accountability measures, including Core Measures, HCAHPS, CALNOC, and other applicable quality initiatives.
  • Support achievement of organizational performance goals established by CMS and The Joint Commission.
  • Ensure departmental compliance with National Patient Safety Goals and evidence-based emergency nursing practices.
  • Develop, monitor, and evaluate quality improvement initiatives aligned with hospital and departmental objectives.
  • Identify departmental quality indicators, collect performance data, and implement corrective action plans as needed.
  • Maintain high standards for emergency patient assessment, treatment, clinical documentation, and continuity of care.
  • Ensure staff maintain required licenses, certifications, competencies, and annual clinical education requirements.
• Staff Leadership & Development
  • Recruit, hire, train, supervise, evaluate, and develop Emergency Department nursing personnel.
  • Oversee staffing plans, employee scheduling, and workforce allocation to maintain appropriate patient care coverage.
  • Conduct timely employee performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching, mentoring, and professional development.
  • Promote a collaborative, supportive, and accountable work environment focused on teamwork and clinical excellence.
  • Ensure new employees complete required orientation and competency training before working independently.
  • Coordinate ongoing staff education, in-service training, and professional development opportunities.
  • Monitor employee performance, engagement, and retention while addressing staffing challenges proactively.
  • Foster strong communication and cooperation among nursing staff, physicians, and other hospital departments.
• Financial Management & Resource Allocation
  • Develop, manage, and monitor the Emergency Department budget in alignment with hospital financial objectives.
  • Evaluate staffing needs, labor expenses, supplies, equipment, and departmental resource utilization.
  • Implement cost-control measures while maintaining high standards of patient care and operational efficiency.
  • Coordinate equipment, medical supplies, and staffing resources to support continuous emergency department operations.
  • Monitor equipment functionality, maintenance requirements, and departmental cleanliness.
  • Collaborate with hospital leadership to establish annual departmental objectives and financial performance goals.
• Patient Experience & Interdepartmental Collaboration
  • Promote patient-centered care and positive experiences for patients and families receiving emergency services.
  • Maintain effective relationships with emergency physicians, medical staff, nursing leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
  • Identify and resolve departmental and interdepartmental challenges to improve workflow and continuity of care.
  • Support hospital initiatives designed to improve patient satisfaction, clinical outcomes, and service quality.
  • Collaborate with hospital leadership to ensure Emergency Services supports the organization's mission, vision, and strategic goals.
  • Maintain a professional, responsive approach to emergency situations, patient concerns, and operational challenges.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum 7 years of Registered Nurse (RN) experience in an Emergency Department setting.
• Previous Emergency Department Nurse Manager or Director experience required.
• Current, active California Registered Nurse (RN) license.
• Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or higher.
• Current MICN, ACLS, NRP, and PALS certifications.
• Strong clinical background in emergency nursing, trauma care, and acute care hospital operations.
• Demonstrated experience managing Emergency Department staffing, scheduling, clinical workflows, and nursing personnel.
• Knowledge of Joint Commission, CMS, California Title 22, and other applicable healthcare regulatory requirements.
• Experience implementing clinical quality improvement initiatives, patient safety measures, and performance standards.
• Strong understanding of emergency nursing practices, patient assessment, crisis management, and clinical decision-making.
• Experience with departmental budgeting, resource management, and operational planning.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
• Ability to maintain 24/7 leadership availability and respond to departmental needs outside regular business hours.
• Ability to provide direct patient care and support Emergency Department operations when necessary.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Previous experience serving as an Emergency Department Director, Emergency Services Director, or Emergency Department Nurse Manager.
• Leadership experience within an acute care hospital, trauma center, or high-acuity Emergency Department.
• Experience supporting trauma services, stroke readiness, and emergency preparedness initiatives.
• Demonstrated success improving patient safety, clinical outcomes, staff engagement, and Emergency Department performance.
• Experience managing departmental budgets, regulatory surveys, and quality improvement programs.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

• Ability to work in a fast-paced Emergency Department with changing patient volumes and clinical priorities.
• Ability to respond effectively to medical emergencies, crisis situations, and unpredictable patient care needs.
• May require prolonged standing, walking, bending, reaching, and occasional lifting or carrying of up to 25 pounds.
• Potential exposure to infectious diseases, bloodborne pathogens, bodily fluids, and other healthcare-related hazards.
• Must be able to balance administrative leadership responsibilities with direct clinical support when needed.
• Flexibility to respond to departmental needs outside standard business hours.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

• Competitive Compensation: $138,000–$200,000 annually, based on experience.
• Additional Earnings: Annual Incentive Plan (AIP) bonus eligibility.
• Sign-On Incentive: Sign-on bonus available for eligible candidates.
• Relocation Support: Relocation assistance available.
• Leadership Opportunity: Direct Emergency Services operations within a 24/7 acute care hospital.
• Specialized Care Environment: Lead an Emergency Department at a Level IV Trauma Center and Stroke Ready Receiving Center.
• Professional Growth: Collaborate directly with executive leadership, physicians, and interdisciplinary healthcare teams.
• Meaningful Impact: Drive improvements in emergency patient care, clinical quality, employee development, and operational performance.