Director of Nursing - Emergency Department - Albuquerque, NM
Listed compensation
$114k-$158k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.
Job Description
Full-time | Permanent / Direct Hire | $114,000 – $158,000 per year
Lead a high-acuity, around-the-clock Emergency Department at a full-service acute care hospital in Albuquerque. We're seeking a Director of Nursing for the ED (Emergency Nursing Director / ED Nurse Director) to own strategy, staffing, quality and culture for a busy emergency service line. Relocation assistance may be available for the ideal candidate.
What You'll Do
- Hold 24-hour accountability for ED operations, patient throughput, quality and patient experience
- Build leadership bench strength through coaching, mentoring and succession planning
- Partner with emergency physicians and hospital leadership to strengthen engagement and care coordination
- Set staffing and productivity standards and drive quality, safety and service initiatives
- Monitor compliance with accreditation and regulatory standards (CMS, Joint Commission)
- Develop operating and capital budgets, manage expenses and support revenue growth
- Plan onboarding, orientation and ongoing education for nursing staff
What You Bring
Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN); MSN or MBA a plus
Active RN License Valid in New Mexico
- 5+ years of emergency nursing experience with proven ED leadership; strong ED Managers ready to step up are encouraged
- A track record of improving retention, engagement, throughput and team culture
Why You'll Love It Here
- Comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage
- Retirement savings plan with employer contribution
- Paid time off, holidays, and life and disability insurance
- Tuition and professional-development support
- A supportive, patient-first culture where your voice is heard
Key Responsibilities
The Director of Nursing will oversee 24-hour operations, staffing, and quality initiatives for the Emergency Department. They will also manage budgets, mentor staff, and collaborate with physicians to ensure high standards of patient care.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Bachelor's degree in nursing and an active New Mexico RN license. A minimum of 5 years of emergency nursing experience with proven leadership capabilities is required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Bachelor degree
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Emergency Nursing — Registered Nurse Career Context
Of the 40 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 28% are remote, 50% have no call, 73% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for New Mexico is 92.2 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$136k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $148k in an average-cost state. 61.4% of New Mexico clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Listed pay | $114k–$158k | Nursing Leadership median $118k (middle half $100k–$135k)110 comparable listings, Nov 2026 |
| Cost-of-living adjusted pay | ~$148k in purchasing power | New Mexico index 92.2 (US = 100)BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Nursing Leadership listings in New Mexico | 36 active | 5,773 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 28% remote · 50% no call · 73% no weekends40 benchmarked listings |
| Sign-on & loan repayment | not stated | US Registered Nurse listings: 10% state a sign-on bonus (median $10k) · 4% offer loan repayment1,000 active listings, Nov 2026 |
Top Registered Nurse Jobs
30 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
30 jobs · 23 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
20 jobsShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
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Listing-based score, 0–10, across 1,187 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.
Benefits & Perks
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Living in Albuquerque
- Typical 3-bedroom home value
- $339k≈ 3.0× annual pay
- Typical market rent
- $1,452/mo≈ 15% of gross pay
- Residents’ average commute
- 22 min
- Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
- 95.5
- State income tax
- Up to 5.9%
Sources & methodology
Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.
BEA 2024 · Albuquerque, NM metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.
Ratios use this listing’s gross annual pay. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.