Director Post Acute Services

At ScionHealth, we empower our caregivers to do what they do best. We value every voice by caring deeply for every patient and each other. We show courage by running toward the challenge and we lean into new ideas by embracing curiosity and question asking. Together, we create our culture by living our values in our day-to-day interactions with our patients and teammates.

Job Summary

• The Director-Post Acute Services is responsible for overseeing and leading the nursing staff within the Post-Acute Services department, including Inpatient Rehabilitation Nursing, Geriatric Psychiatry (Geri-Psych) Nursing, and Swing Bed Nursing. This role ensures high-quality, patient-centered nursing care while promoting operational efficiency, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards, fostering team collaboration, and supporting professional development for nursing staff in these specialized areas.

Essential Functions

Leadership & Oversight

• Lead, supervise, and mentor the nursing teams across Inpatient Rehabilitation, Geri-Psych, and Swing Bed units, ensuring exceptional patient care delivery.
• Develop and implement evidence-based nursing practices to support patient care goals and ensure optimal recovery for post-acute patients.
• Promote an interdisciplinary approach to care by working closely with physicians, rehabilitation therapists, social workers, and other healthcare providers.
• Create a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement among nursing staff.

Clinical Excellence & Patient Care

• Oversee the delivery of high-quality, compassionate nursing care tailored to the needs of post-acute patients, including inpatient rehabilitation therapy, psychiatric care, and medical management.
• Develop, monitor, and evaluate nursing practices in post-acute care units to ensure safety, quality, and patient satisfaction.
• Ensure that nursing staff provides appropriate assessments, interventions, and ongoing evaluations for patients in rehab, geri-psych, and swing bed settings.
• Review and resolve any clinical issues or patient concerns related to nursing care delivery.

Operational Management

• Manage daily nursing operations in the rehabilitation, geri-psych, and swing bed units to ensure optimal staffing, patient flow, and resource utilization.
• Collaborate with hospital leadership to ensure adequate staffing levels and safe patient care environments, factoring in census, acuity, and staff competencies.
• Oversee nursing documentation and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations and standards.
• Implement best practices to improve operational efficiency and enhance the quality of nursing care in the post-acute services.

Staff Development & Education

• Lead recruitment, hiring, retention, and training efforts for nursing staff within post-acute services.
• Design and implement ongoing education, orientation, and competency assessments for nursing staff to maintain high standards of care in rehabilitation, geri-psych, and swing bed settings.
• Promote career development through mentorship, continuing education, and nursing certifications, particularly those specific to post-acute care (e.g., rehabilitation nursing or psychiatric nursing certifications).
• Facilitate regular staff meetings, in-services, and team-building activities to foster engagement and professional growth.

Regulatory Compliance & Quality Improvement

• Ensure the program provides services in accordance with all local, state, and federal regulations and meets Medicare/Medicaid conditions of participation.
• Lead and participate in quality improvement initiatives to enhance patient outcomes, nursing practices, and service delivery.
• Monitor and evaluate nursing performance, patient satisfaction scores, and incident reports to identify areas for improvement.
• Address and resolve patient safety issues, incidents, and concerns related to nursing care in the post-acute care setting.

Budget & Resource Management

• Collaborate with hospital leadership to develop and manage the nursing department’s budget, ensuring appropriate allocation of resources to support patient care and staff needs.
• Monitor and optimize nursing resource utilization to ensure cost-effective care while maintaining patient safety and satisfaction.
• Oversee the purchasing and maintenance of necessary equipment and supplies for the post-acute nursing units.

Collaboration & Communication

• Act as the primary point of contact for nursing issues related to rehabilitation, geri-psych, and swing bed services within the hospital.
• Collaborate with physicians, case managers, therapists, and other healthcare providers to ensure integrated, patient-centered care.
• Ensure effective communication between nursing staff, leadership, and patients/families regarding care plans, concerns, and updates.
• Participate in hospital-wide committees, meetings, and initiatives related to nursing practice and patient care.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Expectations

• Strong leadership, critical thinking, and decision-making skills
• Expertise in managing nursing staff, operations, and patient care processes in specialized post-acute services
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and team-building skills
• In-depth knowledge of regulatory requirements, quality metrics, and nursing best practices in post-acute settings
• Ability to manage budgets, staffing, and resources to meet patient care needs effectively
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking during daily operations
• Occasional travel may be required for training, meetings, or conferences

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Nursing (BSN) from an accredited institution (required)
• Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field (preferred)

Licenses/Certifications

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice
• Advanced certifications such as Certified Rehabilitation Registered Nurse (CRRN) or Psychiatric Nursing Certification (PMHN) are preferred
• CPR and BLS certification (required)
• Advanced certifications in post-acute care or nursing leadership are preferred

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years of nursing experience in a hospital setting, with at least 2 years of progressive leadership experience, including direct oversight of nursing services in post-acute care settings such as rehab, geri-psych, or swing beds
• Experience managing multi-disciplinary teams and driving quality improvements in patient care
• Minimum of two years of psych experience