Director of Nursing, Peace Hospital, Child and Adolescent Psych 8a-5p

Address: 2020 Newburg Rd. Louisville, KY 40205Shift: First Shift (United States of America)Job Description Summary: UofL Health is a fully integrated regional academic health system with five hospitals, four medical centers, nearly 200 physician practice locations, more than 700 providers, the Frazier Rehab Institute and Brown Cancer Center.With more than 12,000 team members—physicians, surgeons, nurses, pharmacists and other highly skilled health care professionals—UofL Health is focused on one mission: delivering patient-centered care to each and every patient each and every day.Job Description: Director of Nursing – Inpatient Child & Adolescent Behavioral HealthPosition SummaryThe Director of Nursing (DON) for Inpatient Child & Adolescent Behavioral Health is responsible for the overall clinical, operational, and administrative leadership of nursing services within a 24/7 inpatient psychiatric hospital setting. This role ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality, trauma-informed, and developmentally appropriate care for children and adolescents with acute behavioral health needs. The DON drives clinical excellence, regulatory compliance, staff development, and patient safety in a high-acuity environment.Key ResponsibilitiesOperational & Nursing LeadershipProvide 24/7 leadership and oversight of inpatient psychiatric nursing operations.Direct and coordinate all nursing services across child and adolescent inpatient units.Ensure appropriate staffing models, acuity-based assignments, and workforce planning.Serve as a key member of the hospital leadership team, contributing to operational strategy and program growth.Develop and enforce policies, procedures, and clinical protocols specific to inpatient behavioral health.Clinical & Patient Care OversightEnsure delivery of evidence-based psychiatric nursing care tailored to pediatric populations.Oversee management of high-acuity patients, including those with severe behavioral dysregulation, suicidality, aggressive behaviors, and trauma histories.Ensure best practices for:Milieu managementDe-escalation and crisis interventionSuicide prevention protocolsUse of restraints and seclusion (reduction initiatives)Oversee safe medication administration, including psychotropic medication monitoring.Partner with psychiatrists and interdisciplinary teams on treatment planning and outcomes.Safety & Risk ManagementPromote a culture of safety focused on:Reduction of incidents (self-harm, aggression, elopement)Safe patient handling and crisis responseLead root cause analyses (RCA) and implement corrective action plans.Monitor and reduce restrictive interventions in alignment with regulatory standards.Ensure staff competency in CPI (Crisis Prevention Intervention) or equivalent.Regulatory Compliance & AccreditationEnsure compliance with:Joint Commission Behavioral Health standardsCMS Conditions of ParticipationState psychiatric hospital licensure requirementsLead survey readiness and manage regulatory audits/inspections.Oversee policy updates related to patient rights, restraint/seclusion, and documentation standards.Staff Leadership & Workforce DevelopmentRecruit, hire, and retain skilled behavioral health nursing staff and mental health technicians.Provide leadership oversight to Nurse Managers.Implement structured onboarding and competency validation programs for inpatient psychiatric care.Lead ongoing staff education on:Trauma-informed carePediatric behavioral healthCrisis intervention and safety practicesBuild a culture of accountability, engagement, and resilience (reducing burnout and turnover).Quality Improvement & Performance ManagementMonitor and improve key clinical and operational metrics, including:Restraint/seclusion ratesPatient safety incidentsMedication errorsStaff injuriesPatient satisfaction and outcomesLead performance improvement initiatives using data-driven approaches.Participate in hospital committees.Family & Patient EngagementEnsure care models support family involvement and communication.Promote developmentally appropriate, culturally competent, and patient-centered care.Address grievances and participate in service recovery processes.Financial & Resource ManagementDevelop and manage departmental budgets and staffing targets.Monitor labor utilization, overtime, and productivity benchmarks.Ensure efficient use of resources while maintaining safe staffing levels.QualificationsEducationBachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) requiredMaster’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field preferredLicensure & CertificationsActive Registered Nurse (RN) licenseBasic Life Support (BLS) requiredPsychiatric-Mental Health Nursing Certification (PMH-BC) preferredExperienceMinimum 4 years of nursing experience, including inpatient psychiatric careMinimum 2 years of progressive leadership in behavioral health (manager or above)Direct experience in child/adolescent inpatient behavioral health strongly preferredExperience managing high-acuity psychiatric populations and crisis environments requiredKey CompetenciesExpertise in inpatient psychiatric nursing operationsStrong knowledge of behavioral health regulations and accreditation standardsAdvanced crisis management and de-escalation leadershipAbility to lead in high-stress, high-acuity environmentsExcellent communication and interdisciplinary collaboration skillsData-driven decision-making and performance improvement capabilityWork Environment24/7 inpatient psychiatric hospital settingHigh-acuity behavioral health units with potential exposure to aggressive or self-harming behaviorsRequires availability for off-hours, on-call coverage, and emergency responseKey Performance Indicators (KPIs)Reduction in restraint/seclusion utilizationPatient and staff safety incident ratesStaff turnover and engagement scoresRegulatory survey outcomesQuality and clinical outcome metricsEducation:Additional Job Description:Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Required).Master’s Degree in Nursing, Administration, Education or other Leadership field from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Preferred).If Master’s Degree in other discipline outside of Nursing, then Bachelor Degree in Nursing from an accredited/approved school of nursing.Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (PhD) or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from an accredited/approved school of nursing (Preferred).Experience:A minimum of four (4) years related professional experience, including two (2) years in a leadership level in a matrix management organization. (Required) A portfolio of increasing responsibility will be considered in lieu of traditional management history.Proven ability to direct and/or facilitate the work effort of peers and subordinates through teamwork and team building (Required)Proven ability to work collaboratively and effectively communicate with physicians, hospital staff, educational institution representatives and other professionals (Required)Licensure: Active Kentucky Registered Nurse License or compact license with privileges to work in Kentucky (Required).Certification:Basic Life Support (BLS) accredited by the American Heart Association (AHA) (Required)National Nursing Certification in Field of Specialty obtained if not held at time of hire (Preferred)