Chief Nursing Officer

Stony Brook University Hospital is a nationally recognized academic medical center and the flagship hospital of Stony Brook Medicine, serving as Suffolk County’s only tertiary care center and Level 1 Trauma Center.

The hospital provides a full range of advanced inpatient and outpatient services, including highly specialized care in areas such as cardiac care, neurosciences, oncology, transplantation, and critical care.

As the clinical home of the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, the hospital plays a central role in advancing clinical excellence, education, and research while serving as a regional referral center for complex and specialized care across Long Island and beyond.

Position Summary

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) for Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) serves as the senior nursing executive responsible for the strategic leadership, operational oversight, and advancement of nursing practice across the hospital. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital, the CNO ensures excellence in patient care delivery, professional nursing practice, workforce development, and clinical outcomes.

As a member of the hospital’s senior executive leadership team, the CNO contributes to the strategic direction of Stony Brook University Hospital and works closely with physician leaders, administrative leadership, and interdisciplinary teams to advance the hospital’s mission of delivering exceptional patient care, education, and research within a leading academic medical center.

The CNO also plays an important leadership role across Stony Brook Medicine, collaborating with the Chief Nursing Officers at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital (SBELIH) to promote alignment in nursing standards, professional practice, workforce strategy, and quality outcomes across the health system, while supporting clinical integration and system growth.

Duties of a Chief Nursing Officer may include the following but are not limited to:

Serves as a key member of the Stony Brook University Hospital senior executive leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, operational leadership, and the advancement of the hospital’s mission and long-term vision.

Provides executive leadership for nursing professional practice, education, research, administration, and clinical services across Stony Brook University Hospital and ensures that the voice and perspective of nursing are integrated into major organizational decisions affecting patient care, workforce strategy, and clinical operations.

Establishes and advances a vision for nursing that promotes patient-centered care, evidence-based practice, continuous improvement in quality and safety, and an exceptional patient and family experience.

Leads the development and execution of nursing strategies that support organizational priorities including quality, patient safety, workforce engagement, operational excellence, and clinical innovation.

Ensures the advancement of the hospital’s professional practice model and promotes a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous learning, and nursing excellence.

In collaboration with hospital and system leadership, defines and oversees nursing policies, standards of care, and professional practice expectations across the organization, including scope of practice, evidence-based standards of care, competency development and evaluation, professional education and career advancement, and appropriate staffing models and resource allocation.

Partners with Human Resources and clinical leadership to develop and implement a comprehensive nursing workforce strategy focused on recruitment, retention, professional development, workforce engagement, and leadership development.

Promotes an interdisciplinary shared governance model that empowers nurses and care teams to participate in clinical decision-making and practice improvement.

Leads initiatives that enable nurses and other clinicians to practice at the top of their license through evidence-based care models, advanced clinical decision-making frameworks, and team-based care delivery.

Maintains a deep understanding of the Magnet Recognition Program and leads initiatives that strengthen a culture of nursing excellence consistent with Magnet principles.

Provides system nursing leadership by working collaboratively with the Chief Nursing Officers at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital and Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital to align professional practice standards, workforce strategies, and quality outcomes across Stony Brook Medicine.

Uses clinical, operational, and workforce data to guide strategic decision-making and drive measurable improvements in patient outcomes, care delivery, and organizational performance.

Supports the academic mission of Stony Brook Medicine by fostering collaboration with the School of Nursing and other academic partners to advance research, clinical education, and workforce development.

Promotes innovation in care delivery, nursing practice, and workforce models to support the evolving needs of patients and the healthcare environment.

Builds strong relationships with physician leadership and interdisciplinary teams to promote coordinated care delivery, improve patient outcomes, and enhance the patient experience.

Maintains strong engagement with nursing staff across the organization through visible leadership, effective communication, and inclusive decision-making.

Collaborates with union leadership to promote constructive labor relations and support a positive, adaptable, and engaged work environment.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
• Master’s Degree in Nursing or in a related field.
• Eligible for RN licensure in the state of New York.
• Ten or more years of nurse leadership experience in a hospital setting required.

Strong operational and financial acumen with a track record of leading and partnering around a vision for improving health through clinical excellence and compassion.

Strong conceptual clinical base with expertise in professional practice models, systems thinking and quality improvement.

A highly effective leader who can sit at the executive table and relate to interdisciplinary teams of clinicians, specifically bedside caregivers.

Strong executive presence and political savvy including communication skills that enable them to appreciate other’s perspectives and offer compelling insights and recommendations.

Experience championing an environment that rewards innovation, risk-taking and is viewed as a highly visible and effective leader.

Experience with process improvement, leading teams, and managing organizational change initiatives. Proven ability of building internal and external relationships, with a demonstrated track record of working successfully with academic partners, physicians and physician leaders, and diverse management teams.

Experience building partnerships with a School of Nursing and collaborating around the generation of new knowledge and education of future practitioners.

Proven track record in the recruitment, retention and development of talent. Demonstrated experience creating a work environment that fosters diversity and inclusion.

Experience building and sustaining a best practices-oriented staffing model which includes working with human resources on recruitment, retention and engagement strategies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Doctorate in Nursing (DNP or PhD in Nursing)
• National certification in nursing leadership (e. g., NEA-BC, NE-BC, or equivalent)
• Experience working in or leading within an academic medical center
• Experience with Magnet Recognition Program or Magnet-designated organizations
• Demonstrated experience partnering with academic institutions to advance nursing education, research, and workforce development
• Special Notes: Resume/CV should be included with the online application.

Posting Overview: This position will remain posted until filled or for a maximum of 90 days. An initial review of all applicants will occur two weeks from the posting date. Candidates are advised on the application that for full consideration, applications must be received before the initial review date (which is within two weeks of the posting date).

If within the initial review no candidate was selected to fill the position posted, additional applications will be considered for the posted position; however, the posting will close once a finalist is identified, and at minimal, two weeks after the initial posting date. Please note, that if no candidate were identified and hired within 90 days from initial posting, the posting would close for review, and possibly reposted at a later date.

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Stony Brook Medicine is a smoke free environment. Smoking is strictly prohibited anywhere on campus, including parking lots and outdoor areas on the premises.

All Hospital positions may be subject to changes in pass days and shifts as necessary.

This position may require the wearing of respiratory protection, which may prohibit the wearing of facial hair.

This function/position may be designated as “essential.” This means that when the Hospital is faced with an institutional emergency, employees in such positions may be required to remain at their work location or to report to work to protect, recover, and continue operations at Stony Brook Medicine, Stony Brook University Hospital and related facilities.

• Prior to start date, the selected candidate must meet the following requirements:
• Successfully complete pre-employment physical examination and obtain medical clearance from Stony Brook Medicine's Employee Health Services*
• Complete electronic reference check with a minimum of three (3) professional references.
• Successfully complete a 4 panel drug screen*
• Meet Regulatory Requirements for pr