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Acuity Eye Group
Escondido, California

Director of Nursing

Registered NurseFull-Time

Listed compensation

$130k-$160k

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago · Verified live

Job Description

The Director of Nursing will be responsible for ensuring that assigned Surgery Center(s) are operating efficiently and consistently and are staffed appropriately, including scheduling, downtime, and overtime.

The Director of Nursing will ensure all clinical best practices and policies are followed while proactively solving problems. The Director, Nursing will be responsible for training and onboarding nurses and all Surgery Center staff.

The Director of Nursing will participate in the recruitment and selection process of new staff. The Director, Nursing will develop team members through effective leadership, coaching, and mentoring.

The Director, Nursing will collaborate with physicians and Company management to operate profitable Surgery Centers while providing the best patient care.

Essential Functions

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential function satisfactorily, with or without accommodation. The requirements listed below are representative, but not all-inclusive, of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

Develops, maintains, and implements nursing policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice, facility philosophy, and operational policies while maintaining compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

Communicates and interprets policies and procedures to nursing staff and monitors staff practices and implementation.

Participates in all patient care decisions and performs staff annual performance evaluations and competency testing on an ongoing basis as assigned by management.

Participates in daily or weekly management team meetings to discuss patient status, census changes, personnel, or resident complaints or concerns.

Participates in the recruitment and selection of staff and ensures sufficient staff are hired and fully utilized.

  • Participates in coaching, counseling, and disciplinary actions of nursing staff and other surgical staff.
  • Ensures delivery of compassionate quality care and nursing supervision as evidenced by adequate services and staff coverage.
  • Exercises overall supervision of patient assessments and care plans.

Develops, maintains, and reviews weekly reports to monitor and ensure timely, effective communication to significant changes in condition and care plans.

Collaborates with physicians, facilities, community agencies, and institutions to improve the quality of services and to resolve identified problems.

Works with management in overseeing nursing schedules to ensure they meet patient needs and regulatory and budgetary standards.

Works as a staff nurse as needed and maintains the highest quality of nursing care as a role model.

Maintains required licensure and certifications and ensures all nursing staff and surgical personnel maintains their requisite licenses and certifications.

Maintains industry knowledge and looks for ways to improve patient care in all areas of the surgical center, including preop, pacu, and intraoperatively.

Develops and delivers in-service education to equip nursing staff with sufficient knowledge and skills to provide compassionate, quality care and respect for patient rights.

Performs rounds when not scheduled as a staff nurse to observe care and to interview staff, patients, families/caregivers or other interested parties.

Proactively develops procedures to promote workplace safety and safe work practices.

Coordinates and/or develops ongoing QI/QA activities for nursing services to monitor nursing compliance with standards and regulatory requirements through rounds, interviews, and record reviews. Compiles summary of findings for the Compliance Department.

Communicates directly with patients, families, medical staff, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members, and regional management to coordinate care and services, promote the participation of care plans, and maintain a high quality of care and life for patients.

Promotes customer service and hospitality and responds to and adequately resolves complaints or concerns from patients or families about nursing services.

Monitors service incidents and complaints as needed to identify those defined as unusual occurrences by State policy and promptly reports such occurrences to the Doctors/Managing Partner and/or administrator.

Collaborates with other facilities, medical professionals, consultants, and organizations, including government agencies, to develop, support and coordinate patient care, and related administrative functions and to represent the interests of the organization.

Leads and supports care programs and research and assists in marketing, business development, outreach, education, quality improvement, and other initiatives as needed.

Relies on extensive experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.

Actively share ideas in a constructive and positive manner by listening to and objectively considering ideas and suggestions from others.

Advocates and assists in maintaining a clean, neat, and cheerful environment where our patients feel comfortable.

Holding regular staff meetings, keeping meeting minutes to include addressing all incident reports, infection control, adverse incidents, and any other issue.

Assists in maintaining the ASC survey ready and completes any assigned task to get the ASC survey ready in a timely manner.

Maintains Infection Control certification and oversees the Infection Control Program for the ASC; including the monitoring and reporting as management designates.

  • Develops, documents, and maintains standard operational procedures, checklists, and process flows.
  • Maintains an appropriate professional appearance and demeanor in accordance with Company policies.
  • Keeps commitments and keep direct supervisor informed of work progress, timetables, and issues.

Maintains strict compliance with State, Federal and other regulations (e. g., OSHA, WC, HIPAA, ADA, FEHA, DOL, HR policies and practices).

Provides Overall Human Resources Management

Develops annual budget and provides daily oversight of daily operations with daily, weekly, and monthly reporting; working closely with the financial support team

Performs computer skills with accurate use of word processing, data collection, report writing and financial reports

Provides oversight for the business office functions, including scheduling, pre-authorization, billing, accounts payable and accounts receivable

Provides Oversight for Materials Management

Ensures the development of an annual performance improvement plan; implementation of activities to ensure goals and standards are met

Ensure high customer satisfaction through the development of customer standards and implementation of activities as indicated by ongoing measurement

  • Ensures accurate and timely medical credentialing of all doctors and CRNA staff
  • Ensures complete and accurate up to date files are kept on all employees including required licensing
  • Supports direct patient care in all areas as needed per scope of practice
  • Works closely and supports Director of Nursing in all aspects of overseeing the ASC
  • Provides support to the Governing Board through agenda development, documentation of minutes and distribution of information, reports and other functions as needed
  • Oversees that all patient charts are complete with all necessary signatures, reports and ready to be filed
  • Ensures that all medical equipment is properly maintained, and all Preventive Maintenance services are done as scheduled
  • Oversees that linen and biohazard materials management is picked up according to contract
  • Oversees and reviews all ASC purchases
  • Oversees that all tracking and reporting logs are kept up to date
  • Oversees all monthly, quarterly and annual drills and in-services are complete and documented
  • Re-credential with insurance companies as requested
  • Negotiate and execute center contracts
  • Establish cash rate fees according to Medicare allowable
  • Renew all necessary ASC certifications as due and requested
  • Facilitates communication and supports employee and medical staff relationship
  • Provides support, motivation, and works to improve employee morale
  • Develops and monitors guidelines and standards to assure compliance with state requirements, Medicare approval and federal regulations (OSHA, CLIA, etc)
  • Attends and actively participates in all business meetings and conference calls
  • Other duties as assigned by management.

Requirements

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required

Minimum 3-5 years of related Ambulatory and/or Circulating Nursing experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Prior staff management experience. Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.

Desirable

Bachelor’s Degree or Master’s Degree. Experience in the Ophthalmic Industry with multiple Surgery Center locations. Experience with Regulatory and Accreditation Surveys (AAAHC Accreditation).

Certificates/Licenses/Registrations

Current CA Registered Nurse (RN) License. Current ACLS/BLS Certification. CPR Certification.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities/Talents

  • Knowledge of surgery center best practices and operations.
  • Understanding of budgeting and financial reporting.
  • Ability to create and deliver training plans for consistency in the regions.
  • Demonstrated strong analytical, critical & strategic thinking with minimal oversight.
  • Proven ability to manage multiple work streams & priorities.
  • Clear and effective communicator; adapts to different management, communication & delivery styles.
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships.

Models professionalism by maintaining effective working relationships, following all policies and procedures and approaching challenges with a proactive and positive attitude. Also develops strong, trusted relationships with colleagues and customers.

Effective Team Builder (Character/Integrity; communicates openly; willingness to confront; motivator/

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Nursing oversees daily surgery center operations, including staff management, scheduling, and ensuring compliance with clinical policies and regulatory standards. They also collaborate with physicians and management to maintain profitability while delivering high-quality patient care.

Qualifications

Education
Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
Experience
2+ years of experience

Key Skills

Nursing managementStaff recruitmentRegulatory complianceStaff trainingPerformance evaluationMicrosoft Office

Surgery — Registered Nurse Career Context

Of the 42 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 33% are remote, 57% have no call, 86% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$145k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $131k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Registered Nurse Jobs

25 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution25 jobs · 21 employers

8
<$105k
7
$105k-125k
4
$125k-145k
3
$145k-165k
3
$165k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks18 jobs

401k / retirement match
94%
CME allowance
28%
Sign-on bonus
6%
Loan repayment
6%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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#2

RN / Clinical Nurse Educator - Ambulatory Care

University of Washington · Seattle, Washington

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#3

Director of Nursing DON - Acute Inpatient Mental Health 264

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#4

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+ 23 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 1.5this job 1.5
Better work-life than 30% of Nursing Leadership listings

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,187 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

Living in Escondido

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$801k≈ 6.2× annual pay
Typical market rent
$2,547/mo≈ 24% of gross pay
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
111.9
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Acuity Eye Group logo

About Acuity Eye Group

Hospitals and Health Care
Pasadena, CA
201-500 employees