Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Job Description

Job Description

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

Location : Fresno, California

Salary Range : $150,000 - $210,000 annually

About the Hospital

Join the executive leadership team of a Joint Commission-accredited acute care surgical hospital in Fresno, CA. This facility is a center for surgical excellence, equipped with 13 Operating Rooms and 5 Treatment Rooms, offering a focused and high-quality environment for both staff and patients.

The hospital supports surgeons performing procedures across a wide range of specialties, including :

Breast Surgery

Colon & Rectal

General Surgery

Gynecology

Orthopedic Surgery

Ophthalmology

Otolaryngology

Pain Management

Plastic Surgery

Podiatry

Spine

Urology

Job Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) serves as an integral member of the executive leadership team, responsible for the overall organization and administration of all Patient Care Services. This role requires an engaged, hands-on leader who will establish and oversee all nursing standards of practice, nursing policies and procedures, and nursing standards of patient care. The CNO will ensure the hospital's patient care objectives, set by the Governing Body, are consistently met.

Key Responsibilities Leadership & Engagement

Communicate a clear vision for organizational success that inspires and engages employees.

Build employee commitment by connecting their daily work to the hospital’s overall success.

Foster a positive environment that guides employees toward accomplishing individual and unit goals.

Lead by personal example and respond proactively to changes to maximize opportunities.

Serve as the hospital’s Chief Executive Officer during their extended absences.

People Management

Define and communicate performance standards, providing regular, constructive feedback.

Develop and maintain the departmental staffing model; manage the hiring and onboarding process.

Ensure timely completion of all employee introductory and annual evaluations.

Promote effective internal communication, ensuring staff meetings are conducted regularly.

Address all employee performance issues consistently and promptly.

Quality, Regulatory Compliance, and Performance Improvement

Exercise final authority over all individuals associated with providing nursing care, treatment, and services.

Assure perpetual regulatory compliance with the Joint Commission, CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) , and all federal and state regulatory agencies (e.g., Title 22).

Oversee all regulatory and accreditation surveys.

Identify opportunities and implement initiatives for continuous process improvement.

Develop and track key outcomes to measure nursing and organizational performance.

Collaborate with hospital leaders to develop, implement, and monitor hospital-wide performance improvement activities.

Review quality data and make recommendations to continuously strive for improvement in patient care.

Financial Management

Maintain the department budget for capital, expenses, and revenues.

Monitor and explain budgetary variances.

Identify and implement strategies to decrease costs and improve overall productivity.

Qualifications and Experience Required

Current Registered Nurse (RN) License in California

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.

Minimum five (5) years of prior experience in patient care services.

Demonstrated Surgical Hospital or other Hospital Leadership experience is required.

BLS (Basic Life Support) Certificate.

Preferred

Master’s degree in healthcare management or nursing.

Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or equivalent experience / education with a plan to obtain a higher-level degree.

Three (3) years of quality management experience.

ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) Certificate.

This is an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic nursing leader to join a specialized surgical facility and drive excellence in patient care and operational effectiveness.