Leadership role
Director of Nursing
Directs nursing care and the nursing team in a health care setting such as a nursing home, hospital unit, home health agency or clinic.
Reporting and scope
Usually reports to the facility administrator, Executive Director / CEO or a chief nursing officer. Authority covers nursing practice and the nursing team in the facility or service line.
Core responsibilities
- Sets nursing policies, care standards and staffing plans
- Supervises registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and aides
- Keeps the facility ready for state surveys and accreditation reviews
- Monitors quality measures such as falls, infections and pressure injuries
- Manages nursing budgets, overtime and agency workers
- Handles clinical incidents and family concerns
How it differs
Director of Clinical Services covers multiple clinical disciplines. Medical Director / CMO is a physician. Chief Quality Officer oversees quality across the organization. Director of Nursing leads nursing only. In nursing homes the title is a regulated position that must be held by a registered nurse.
By organization size
In a small nursing home the Director of Nursing is often the senior clinical leader on site. In hospitals the role usually leads a unit or service line under a chief nursing officer.
Filings from the last five years mapped to this role commonly report titles such as: Director of Nursing; Chief Nursing Officer; CNO; Nursing Director; Assistant Director of Nursing; Dir of Nursing
See what this role pays
Median reported total compensation, nationally: $205,000. Based on 7,527 IRS Form 990 filings, fiscal years 2021–2025.
This median spans organizations of every budget size and sector, so it will not match a benchmark for one organization.
State pay pages for this role: Florida, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania.
Benchmark pay for this role