Chief Nursing Officer - Behavioral Health
Compensation
Pay not listed
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about the pay range, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Chief Nursing Officer - Behavioral Health | Creekside Behavioral Health | Kingsport, Tennessee
About the Job
PURPOSE STATEMENT:
The Chief Nursing Officer is responsible and accountable for providing professional nursing care to patients.
Directs, plans, coordinates, monitors and supervises the effective and efficient use of the operations of nursing and the safe delivery of behavioral health/nursing services with a positive, empathetic, and professional attitude.
Ensures the development, implementation, and evaluation of. policies, programs, and services consistent with the facility’s strategic goals and objectives.
Roles and Responsibilities
Sets the vision for nursing practice in the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and patient centered care. Manages the daily operations of nursing services.
Identifies and prioritizes issues of importance, including those priority issues as set by leadership. Collaborates with department leaders and corporate leaders, as needed.
Communicates instructions, expectations and timelines clearly and concisely.
Develops, maintains and implements nursing services, policies and procedures that conform to current standards of nursing practice and accrediting agencies, facility philosophy and operational policies while maintaining compliance with state, federal and local governmental agencies laws and regulations.
Develops and interprets operational indicators to detect census and acuity changes and increases or decreases in volume that could impact staffing levels, revenues or expenses. Acts to correct undesirable trends. Allocates nursing resources based on measurement of patient acuity/care needed.
Leads a team of highly qualified and engaged department members thru hiring, orienting, performance assessment and management, motivating, training, scheduling, and coaching to meet department and facility goals. Ensures adequate staffing.
Maintains productivity levels that are aligned with client census, curtailing unnecessary overtime and/or excessive staff work hours.
- Manages staff scheduling and maintains an updated plan for contingency staffing.
- Maintains accountability expectations for self and staff in all areas of job performance.
- Engages staff in quality and safety basics to ensure sustained, measurable compliance.
Identifies staff educational needs and ensures they are addressed with education programs that are attended by staff.
Holds staff accountable for non-compliance and client safety concerns, as well as attendance, following policies, behavior, and adherence to code of conduct.
Makes nursing diagnosis of the medical and emotional status of patients and recommends treatment options. Consults with psychiatrists and other behavioral health staff in designing appropriate treatment plans for patients. Provides overall supervision of patient assessments and care plans. Coordinates nursing services with all other departments.
Participates in daily or weekly management team meetings to discuss patient’s status, identify indicators for reassessment of patient’s condition, reaction/responsiveness and involvement of other disciplines. Discusses census changes, patient or staff complaints or concerns.
Establishes, implements and monitors the infection control program and safety. Prepares or reviews infection control surveillance reports to identify trends and to develop effective actions to control and prevent infections.
Collaborates with interdisciplinary treatment teams, other departments and administration to ensure that all patient’s physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental and cultural needs are met.
Develops and implements health care related training that assures the best possible delivery of health-related supports and services.
Assists the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in the preparation and administration of the organization's budget. Manages budget and operates within approved budget while providing excellent quality of care. Actively participate in strategic planning and budget development.
Maintains adequate and appropriate inventory of supplies and equipment for the provision of patient services.
Oversees the maintenance of patient clinical records, statistics, reports and records for purposes of evaluation and reporting of organization activities.
Assists CEO in preparing staff for inspection survey. Participates in the preparation and implementation of the Plan of Correction response to an inspection survey.
Monitors unit/floor functioning by making frequent rounds. Intervenes in crisis situations and investigates incidents. Analyzes, reviews and completes follow up on incident reports related to nursing/patient safety issues in conjunction with Risk Management.
May be required to provide onsite coverage for other programs when needed, develops, and executes new programs according to market needs and may provide training, case consultation and Administrator On Call coverage during and after program hours as needed.
Performs Leadership Rounds as assigned to include observation and immediate identification of environment of care, safety, and infection control concerns, as well as real time education of new facility processes.
Assumes patient care assignment in emergency situations as needed.
Education/Experience/Skill Requirements
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree required.
Five or more years’ nursing experience required. Three or more years’ experience in psychiatric or behavioral health required.
Skills in assessment, considerable knowledge of nursing principles and practice, staffing, budgeting, employee management, regulatory requirements and documentation of care; ability to meet regulatory requirements.
Licenses/Designations/Certifications
- Valid current RN license from the state or from a compact state, where applicable.
- Certified in Psychiatric Nursing preferred.
- CPR and de-escalation and restraint certification required (training available upon hire and offered by facility).
- First aid may be required based on state or facility.
WORK LOCATION: This position is onsite at the facility and is not a remote position.
Supervisory Requirements
Five or more years progressive management experience required.
Why Creekside Behavioral Health? Creekside Behavioral Health offers a comprehensive benefit plan and a competitive salary commensurate with experience and qualifications. Qualified candidates should apply by submitting a resume. Creekside Behavioral Health is an EOE.
Veterans and military spouses are highly encouraged to apply. Summit BHC is dedicated to serving Veterans with specialized programming at our treatment centers across the country. We recognize and value the unique strengths of the military community in supporting our mission to serve those who have served.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Nursing Officer directs and supervises nursing operations to ensure the safe and efficient delivery of behavioral health services. They are responsible for strategic planning, budget management, staff development, and maintaining compliance with regulatory standards.
Requirements
Candidates must hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and possess at least five years of nursing experience, including three years in psychiatric or behavioral health. A valid RN license and five or more years of progressive management experience are also required.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 5+ years of experience
Key Skills
Nursing Administration — Registered Nurse Career Context
Of the 50 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 44% are remote, 54% have no call, 68% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for Tennessee is 91.9 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 58.6% of Tennessee clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
| Measure | This job | Market |
|---|---|---|
| Work-life score | 4.5 / 10 · above average in nursing leadership | ranked against 1,187 Nursing Leadership listingslisting-based score, 0–10 |
| Listed pay | not listed | Nursing Leadership median $66k (middle half $62k–$68k)10 comparable listings, Oct 2026 |
| Cost of living | Tennessee index 91.9 | US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024) |
| Nursing Leadership listings in Tennessee | 150 active | 6,001 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Oct 2026 |
| Work setting | on-site | peers: 44% remote · 54% no call · 68% no weekends50 benchmarked listings |
Location & Logistics
Tennessee has no state income tax, which can significantly increase take-home pay compared to high-tax states.
Top Registered Nurse Jobs
41 matches · ranked by paySalary Distribution
36 jobs · 35 employersAnnual compensation range
Benefits & Perks
29 jobsShare of similar jobs offering each benefit
Director of Nursing DON - Acute Inpatient Mental Health 264
Telecare · Shelton, Washington
Asst. Director of Nursing - Ambulatory Care - Newkirk Avenue
Maimonides Medical Center · Brooklyn, New York
Psychiatric Nurse Manager - Women's Mental Health
$150kDirector of Nursing
$128k-$146k