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Chief Nursing Officer

Dominican Hospital Santa Cruz, California
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The posted compensation range of $99.41 - $139.17 /hour is a reasonable estimate that extends from the lowest to the highest pay CommonSpirit in good faith believes it might pay for this particular job, based on the circumstances at the time of posting. CommonSpirit may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range as permitted by law.

Requisition ID 2025-414497 Employment Type Full Time Department Hospital Administration Hours/Pay Period 80 Shift Day Weekly Schedule Monday - Friday Remote No Category Executive Travel No

Responsibilities

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) is a vital member of the hospital's executive leadership team, responsible for directing nursing practice across Dominican Hospital and assigned business entities. The CNO ensures consistent, high-quality standards of patient care by providing strategic leadership, operational oversight, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This role demands a strong leader with a proven track record of success in managing resources, developing and implementing nursing policies, driving quality and cost-effective patient care, and fostering a culture of competency and professional development within the nursing department.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Strategic Leadership & Management:

    • Provide visionary leadership and strategic direction for the nursing department, aligning with the hospital's overall mission, vision, and values.
    • Develop and implement strategic plans to enhance nursing practice, improve patient outcomes, and optimize resource utilization.
    • Serve as a key member of the hospital's executive leadership team, contributing to the overall strategic planning and decision-making processes.

  • Resource Management:

    • Manage the resources (e.g., staff, materials, and finances) of the nursing department effectively and efficiently.
    • Develop and manage the nursing department's budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and alignment with organizational goals.
    • Plan and direct all nursing activities within the facility, ensuring adequate staffing levels and appropriate resource allocation.

  • Policy Development & Compliance:

    • Develop and deploy nursing policies, objectives, and initiatives for the department, ensuring alignment with best practices and regulatory requirements.
    • Review departmental operations to ensure compliance with established standards, policies, and procedures.
    • Maintain current knowledge of relevant laws, regulations, and accreditation standards related to nursing practice.

  • Quality & Patient Safety:

    • Drive the delivery of quality and cost-effective patient care, focusing on patient safety, satisfaction, and positive clinical outcomes.
    • Oversee the performance of nursing staff, providing guidance, mentorship, and performance feedback.
    • Implement and monitor quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient care and improve clinical outcomes.
    • Champion a culture of safety and continuous improvement within the nursing department.

Qualifications

Education and Experience:

  • Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (e.g. BSN) and a Master's degree in nursing or other-related field (e.g., MSN/MBA/MHA).
  • Minimum of ten (10) years of nursing experience and five (5) years of nurse leadership experience.

Licensure:

  • Registered Nursing License (RN) in state of practice.
Overview

Dignity Health's Dominican Hospital (a member of CommonSpirit Health), is a 222-bed facility that offers a wide range of services to residents of California’s Central Coast. With 24/7 emergency care, comprehensive care in cardiac, orthopedics, oncology, women’s and children’s services, we continue to lead the region in medical innovation and excellence in healthcare.

Dominican offers emergency services and is a Certified Stroke Center and Chest Pain Center. Dominican’s services include the only comprehensive Cancer Center in Santa Cruz County, a Total Joint Replacement program, and advanced neurological and endoscopic services. Dominican regularly receives ‘A’ grades for hospital safety from Leapfrog Group, and has received national recognition for superior patient safety, cardiac care, and stroke treatment from Healthgrades, a leading provider of comprehensive information about physicians and hospitals.
As Santa Cruz County’s heart attack (STEMI) receiving center, Dominican Hospital provides cutting edge cardiac care. The hospital’s heart attack treatment times consistently beat the national average, and the hospital offers two cardiac catheterization labs available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Groundbreaking cardiac procedures at Dominican include the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) procedure, which allows for heart valve replacement without opening a patient’s chest.


Dominican Hospital has forged significant partnerships with area hospitals to bring exceptional care to Santa Cruz County. The hospital offers a level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) through a partnership with Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford. Neurosurgery at Dominican is also offered through a partnership with Stanford Health Care.

One Community. One Mission. One California 

Unless directed by a Collective Bargaining Agreement, applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis. CommonSpirit Health cannot anticipate the date by which a successful candidate may be identified.

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Depending on the position offered, CommonSpirit Health offers a generous benefit package, including but not limited to medical, prescription drug, dental, vision plans, life insurance, paid time off (full-time benefit eligible employees may receive a minimum of 14 paid time off days, including holidays annually), tuition reimbursement, retirement plan benefit(s) including, but not limited to, 401(k), 403(b), and other defined benefits offerings, as may be amended from time to time. For more information, please visit https://www.commonspirit.careers/benefits.

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Equal Opportunity

CommonSpirit Health™ is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, marital status, parental status, ancestry, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law. For more information about your EEO rights as an applicant, please click here [PDF].

CommonSpirit Health™ will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c). External hires must pass a post-offer, pre-employment background check/drug screen. Qualified applicants with an arrest and/or conviction will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with federal and state laws, as well as applicable local ordinances, ban the box laws, including but not limited to the San Francisco and Los Angeles Fair Chance Ordinances. If you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the employment process, please contact us by telephone at (415) 438-5575 and let us know the nature of your request. We will only respond to messages left that involve a request for a reasonable accommodation in the application process. We will accommodate the needs of any qualified candidate who requests a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). CommonSpirit Health™ participates in E-Verify.