Patient Care Director Jobs
Patient Care Director jobs are open across hospitals, long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and outpatient clinics, at levels from first-time director to VP of Clinical Operations, with specializations in nursing leadership, case management, and population health. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Category: Nurses
Status: Full-Time
Shift: Day
Facility: Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Department: Operating Room
Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Job Title: Director Patient Care
Location: WILLIAMSON STREET
Department Name: Operating Room
Req #: 0000272224
Status: Salaried
Shift: Day
Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Pay Transparency:
The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.
The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our nursing leaders play an essential role in advancing clinical excellence, supporting healthcare professionals, and delivering exceptional patient experiences. As the Director of Patient Care supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, you'll combine perioperative nursing expertise, strategic leadership, and operational management to oversee safe, high-quality surgical care. From guiding nursing practice and developing high-performing teams to optimizing staffing, managing departmental resources, and advancing quality improvement initiatives, you'll help create an environment where patients receive exceptional care and healthcare professionals are empowered to succeed. Working closely with physicians, department leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, you'll play a critical role in strengthening operational performance, promoting evidence-based practices, and supporting the organization's mission of delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.
As the Director of Patient Care, a typical day may include:
Providing clinical and operational leadership for the Operating Room, maintaining 24-hour accountability for patient care quality, departmental performance, and nursing operations
Supervising Charge Nurses and frontline nursing staff while promoting a positive, collaborative, and high-performing perioperative environment
Partnering with Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, physicians, and hospital leadership to optimize surgical services, nursing coverage, and patient care delivery
Leading recruitment, retention, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development initiatives to maintain a qualified and engaged nursing team
Collaborating with Nursing Education and Human Resources to ensure staff competency, mandatory training, continuing education, and successful orientation
Developing and managing staffing plans, schedules, and nursing assignments based on patient acuity, surgical volume, operational demands, and budgetary guidelines
Establishing and maintaining nursing practice standards consistent with AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory requirements
Leading performance improvement initiatives, monitoring quality indicators, investigating patient safety events, and implementing corrective actions to strengthen clinical outcomes
Promoting Shared Governance, staff engagement, and High Reliability principles while encouraging team participation in clinical decision-making and process improvement
Overseeing departmental budgets, financial performance, supply utilization, inventory management, and cost-containment strategies without compromising patient care
Analyzing operational data, staffing productivity, patient outcomes, and employee and physician satisfaction to identify opportunities for improvement
Supporting departmental strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, issue resolution, and the continuous advancement of safe, efficient surgical services
This role might be for you if:
Leading perioperative nursing operations and advancing excellence in surgical patient care aligns with your professional expertise and leadership goals
A strong Operating Room background provides the clinical foundation needed to guide nursing practice, evaluate patient care needs, and support complex surgical services
Developing, mentoring, and empowering nursing professionals is a meaningful part of your leadership philosophy
Strategic planning and operational oversight are areas of strength, particularly when balancing clinical priorities, staffing needs, and organizational objectives
Building collaborative relationships with surgeons, physicians, nursing leaders, and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals comes naturally
Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking skills support your ability to make timely decisions in a dynamic perioperative environment
Experience managing staffing models, scheduling, productivity, and departmental resources allows you to support efficient and sustainable operations
An analytical mindset guides your approach to evaluating quality indicators, financial performance, patient outcomes, and opportunities for improvement
Promoting a culture of patient safety, accountability, Shared Governance, and High Reliability is central to your leadership approach
Financial stewardship, budget management, and responsible resource allocation are important components of your operational leadership experience
Effective communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills help you navigate complex situations while maintaining positive professional relationships
A commitment to evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, and compassionate, patient-centered care drives your approach to nursing leadership
To be considered for this Director of Patient Care opportunity, you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possess a current New Jersey Registered Nurse (RN) license. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is preferred. Candidates must have a minimum of four years of Operating Room experience and at least two years of experience in a leadership role. Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certifications are required. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong perioperative clinical expertise, nursing leadership, operational management, strategic planning, and staff development skills. Knowledge of AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory standards is essential, along with the ability to promote evidence-based nursing practice, patient safety, and High Reliability principles. Candidates should possess experience overseeing staffing, scheduling, departmental budgets, financial performance, inventory management, quality improvement, and performance metrics. Excellent communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills are necessary, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, hospital leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. A commitment to mentoring nursing professionals, promoting Shared Governance, and delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered care is expected. Flexibility to support departmental clinical and operational needs is important, including maintaining accountability for nursing services beyond standard business hours. This is a salaried, day shift leadership opportunity supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health, with 24-hour accountability for departmental operations and patient care quality.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Retirement Plans
- Short & Long Term Disability
- Life & Accidental Death Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Wellness Programs
- Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
- Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!
RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Category: Nurses
Status: Full-Time
Shift: Day
Facility: Trinitas Regional Medical Center
Department: Operating Room
Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Job Title: Director Patient Care
Location: WILLIAMSON STREET
Department Name: Operating Room
Req #: 0000272224
Status: Salaried
Shift: Day
Pay Range: $151,600.00 - $190,000.00 per year
Pay Transparency:
The above reflects the anticipated annual salary range for this position if hired to work in New Jersey.
The compensation offered to the candidate selected for the position will depend on several factors, including the candidate's educational background, skills and professional experience.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our nursing leaders play an essential role in advancing clinical excellence, supporting healthcare professionals, and delivering exceptional patient experiences. As the Director of Patient Care supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, you'll combine perioperative nursing expertise, strategic leadership, and operational management to oversee safe, high-quality surgical care. From guiding nursing practice and developing high-performing teams to optimizing staffing, managing departmental resources, and advancing quality improvement initiatives, you'll help create an environment where patients receive exceptional care and healthcare professionals are empowered to succeed. Working closely with physicians, department leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, you'll play a critical role in strengthening operational performance, promoting evidence-based practices, and supporting the organization's mission of delivering compassionate, patient-centered care.
As the Director of Patient Care, a typical day may include:
Providing clinical and operational leadership for the Operating Room, maintaining 24-hour accountability for patient care quality, departmental performance, and nursing operations
Supervising Charge Nurses and frontline nursing staff while promoting a positive, collaborative, and high-performing perioperative environment
Partnering with Department Chairs, Division Chiefs, physicians, and hospital leadership to optimize surgical services, nursing coverage, and patient care delivery
Leading recruitment, retention, onboarding, mentoring, and professional development initiatives to maintain a qualified and engaged nursing team
Collaborating with Nursing Education and Human Resources to ensure staff competency, mandatory training, continuing education, and successful orientation
Developing and managing staffing plans, schedules, and nursing assignments based on patient acuity, surgical volume, operational demands, and budgetary guidelines
Establishing and maintaining nursing practice standards consistent with AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory requirements
Leading performance improvement initiatives, monitoring quality indicators, investigating patient safety events, and implementing corrective actions to strengthen clinical outcomes
Promoting Shared Governance, staff engagement, and High Reliability principles while encouraging team participation in clinical decision-making and process improvement
Overseeing departmental budgets, financial performance, supply utilization, inventory management, and cost-containment strategies without compromising patient care
Analyzing operational data, staffing productivity, patient outcomes, and employee and physician satisfaction to identify opportunities for improvement
Supporting departmental strategic planning, interdisciplinary collaboration, issue resolution, and the continuous advancement of safe, efficient surgical services
This role might be for you if:
Leading perioperative nursing operations and advancing excellence in surgical patient care aligns with your professional expertise and leadership goals
A strong Operating Room background provides the clinical foundation needed to guide nursing practice, evaluate patient care needs, and support complex surgical services
Developing, mentoring, and empowering nursing professionals is a meaningful part of your leadership philosophy
Strategic planning and operational oversight are areas of strength, particularly when balancing clinical priorities, staffing needs, and organizational objectives
Building collaborative relationships with surgeons, physicians, nursing leaders, and multidisciplinary healthcare professionals comes naturally
Strong clinical judgment and critical thinking skills support your ability to make timely decisions in a dynamic perioperative environment
Experience managing staffing models, scheduling, productivity, and departmental resources allows you to support efficient and sustainable operations
An analytical mindset guides your approach to evaluating quality indicators, financial performance, patient outcomes, and opportunities for improvement
Promoting a culture of patient safety, accountability, Shared Governance, and High Reliability is central to your leadership approach
Financial stewardship, budget management, and responsible resource allocation are important components of your operational leadership experience
Effective communication, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills help you navigate complex situations while maintaining positive professional relationships
A commitment to evidence-based practice, continuous improvement, and compassionate, patient-centered care drives your approach to nursing leadership
To be considered for this Director of Patient Care opportunity, you must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and possess a current New Jersey Registered Nurse (RN) license. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) is preferred. Candidates must have a minimum of four years of Operating Room experience and at least two years of experience in a leadership role. Current Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support (ACLS), and Certified Perioperative Nurse (CNOR) certifications are required. The ideal candidate demonstrates strong perioperative clinical expertise, nursing leadership, operational management, strategic planning, and staff development skills. Knowledge of AORN, AAMI, Joint Commission, and applicable regulatory standards is essential, along with the ability to promote evidence-based nursing practice, patient safety, and High Reliability principles. Candidates should possess experience overseeing staffing, scheduling, departmental budgets, financial performance, inventory management, quality improvement, and performance metrics. Excellent communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, organizational, and interpersonal skills are necessary, along with the ability to collaborate effectively with physicians, hospital leadership, and multidisciplinary healthcare teams. A commitment to mentoring nursing professionals, promoting Shared Governance, and delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centered care is expected. Flexibility to support departmental clinical and operational needs is important, including maintaining accountability for nursing services beyond standard business hours. This is a salaried, day shift leadership opportunity supporting the Operating Room at Trinitas Regional Medical Center, part of RWJBarnabas Health, with 24-hour accountability for departmental operations and patient care quality.
At RWJBarnabas Health, our market-competitive Total Rewards package provides comprehensive benefits and resources to support our employees physical, emotional, social, and financial health.
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Medical and Prescription Drug Insurance
- Dental and Vision Insurance
- Retirement Plans
- Short & Long Term Disability
- Life & Accidental Death Insurance
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Health Care/Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
- Wellness Programs
- Voluntary Benefits (e.g., Pet Insurance)
- Discounts Through our Partners such as NJ Devils, NJ PAC, Verizon, and more!
RWJBarnabas Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer
Patient Care Director Jobs by Experience Level
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Find Patient Care Director JobsPatient Care Director Job Market
Who's Hiring
- RWJBarnabas Health21
- VHC Health6
- NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital4
- Anchor Health2A
- Baystate Health2
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in patient care director jobs.
- Active registered nurse license with five or more years of clinical leadership experience
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing required, Master of Science in Nursing or MHA strongly preferred
- Demonstrated experience managing staffing plans, nurse-to-patient ratios, and department budgets
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems and clinical documentation workflows
- Knowledge of CMS Conditions of Participation, Joint Commission standards, and state health regulations
- Experience leading quality improvement initiatives tied to patient safety or satisfaction metrics
Tips for Your Patient Care Director Job Search
Align your resume to survey outcomes
Patient care directors are hired on operational results. Rewrite your resume bullets to reflect HCAHPS scores, readmission rate reductions, or Joint Commission audit outcomes you influenced. Generic leadership language won't move you past a screening committee.
Pursue your CPHQ or NHA credential early
Many hospital systems and skilled nursing operators filter applications by certification before a human ever reviews them. Earning a Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality or Nursing Home Administrator license before you apply opens the pool of roles you're actually considered for.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists patient care director openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Target postings by bed count or census volume
A 30-bed rural critical access hospital and a 500-bed academic medical center want completely different things from a patient care director. Filter your search by facility size and read the posting carefully for language about census management or multi-unit oversight before applying.
Prepare a staffing-model story for interviews
Interviewers at health systems almost always ask how you've handled nurse-to-patient ratio decisions under budget pressure. Prepare two or three specific examples that show how you balanced staff safety, regulatory requirements, and cost constraints at the same time.
Negotiate your on-call and scope terms upfront
Patient care director offers often underspecify on-call obligations and which service lines fall under your authority. Before accepting, ask the hiring committee to clarify your coverage expectations in writing and confirm whether outpatient or ancillary departments report to you.
Patient Care Director Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most patient care directors?
RWJBarnabas Health, VHC Health, and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital are hiring the most patient care directors right now, with openings concentrated in New Jersey, California, and New York, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is especially high at large health systems and post-acute care networks expanding their leadership teams.
How many patient care director jobs are remote?
About 38% of patient care director openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most roles require on-site presence for patient rounds, staff supervision, and regulatory inspections. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote flexibility include utilization management, case management leadership, and telehealth program oversight.
How do you become a patient care director?
Start by earning your registered nurse license and working in a clinical specialty long enough to build genuine bedside competence. Move into a charge nurse or nurse manager role to develop scheduling, budgeting, and performance oversight skills. Pursue a graduate degree in nursing or healthcare administration alongside a quality or leadership certification. From there, apply for director-level openings at facilities that match your specialty background.
Can you get hired as a patient care director with limited leadership experience?
Most employers expect candidates to have held a nurse manager or assistant director title before moving into a patient care director role, so direct jumps from staff nurse are rare. Your best path is to target smaller facilities, rural hospitals, or long-term care operators who face leadership shortages, while simultaneously earning a healthcare administration credential that signals readiness for the step up.
What does the patient care director interview process look like?
Most health systems run a structured process that begins with an HR phone screen focused on licensure and leadership tenure, followed by a panel interview with nursing leadership, HR, and finance stakeholders who ask scenario-based questions about staffing crises, budget variances, and quality metrics. A final round often includes a facility tour, a meeting with the CNO or VP of Patient Services, and sometimes a written case study on a clinical operations problem.
Where can I find and apply to patient care director jobs?
You can find and apply to patient care director jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Find roles that fit your specialty background and experience level, then apply directly to each listing from the page.
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