Director of Nursing (DON)

Registered NurseIncludes callFull-Time

Compensation

Pay not listed

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the pay range, the work setting, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1 day ago · Verified live

Job Description

Join the VitalCore Team in Georgia! We’re people fueled by passion, not by profit.

VitalCore Health Strategies (VCHS), an industry leader in Correctional Healthcare, has an opening for a Director of Nursing at Charles B. Webster Detention Center in Augusta, Georgia!

Looking for a rewarding career in healthcare with competitive wages, an annual incentive bonus, and an excellent benefits package?

At VitalCore we pride ourselves on retaining and acquiring compassionate, dedicated individuals who are committed to providing quality services. Join our team and experience first-hand how VitalCore Health Strategies promotes a positive work environment that is based on respect and appreciation of the hard work and dedication of our staff.

DIRECTOR OF NURSING BENEFITS PACKAGE TO INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

  • Holiday Pay: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
  • Medical
  • Dental
  • Vision
  • Health Savings Account
  • Life Insurance
  • Short Term/Long Term Disability
  • Identity Theft Protection
  • Pet Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program and Discount Center
  • 401K & Plan Matching
  • PTO
  • Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
  • Annual Incentive Bonus

Director of Nursing Position Summary

The Director of Nursing (DON) is a supervisory nursing position who works in a correctional setting in which nursing services are required on a 24-hour basis. The DON supervises and coordinates the activities of nursing personnel in one or more patient care units.

The DON verifies that patients’ needs are met and evaluates nursing care and patient care unit performance. They participate in the planning of work for assigned units and coordinate activities with other patient units/departments.

The DON plans and organizes training for staff members and works in partnership with the Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON) if applicable, Health Services Administrator (HSA), and Regional Leadership to fulfill contractual requirements and achieve operational and clinical performance targets.

Director of Nursing Schedule

  • Full Time with call

Director of Nursing Minimum Requirements / Preferences

  • Graduate of an Accredited Nursing School required. Bachelor’s or Master's Degree in nursing preferred
  • Licensed to practice nursing in the State, board-certified or board-eligible in medicine, and has training and experience providing services to an adult population
  • To redefine benchmarks for the industry utilizing core values, strong partnerships, effective clinical practices, and innovative healthcare strategies
  • Specialty certification in correctional healthcare is desired (Certified Correctional Health Professional: CCHP, Certified Correctional Health Professional Nurse: CCHP-RN)
  • Minimum of 3 years of clinical experience in a healthcare setting, with correctional healthcare experience is preferred
  • Previous clinical operations management experience is preferred; previous direct management experience within a correctional health setting is desired
  • Knowledge of accreditation standards (NCCHC, ACA & state-specific), as well as experience with quality improvement programs and clinical auditing, is preferred

Director of Nursing Essential Functions

  • Utilizes a systematic approach to meet the health needs of each individual patient
  • Provides quality oversight in collaboration with site, regional and corporate leadership. Provides clinical supervision to nursing staff. Implements appropriate work structure and processes to accomplish goals for patient care specific to contract requirements and healthcare policy and procedures. Assists and supports nursing staff with the provision of patient care. Organizes the delivery of safe, effective, and efficient patient care
  • Evaluates patient care delivery processes on a regular, systematic, and frequent basis. Provides written reports to regional team and clients as scheduled or requested. Effectively uses data to identify performance improvement opportunities, takes action to drive improvement, and monitors progress through ongoing analysis of data and results
  • Facilitates the development of site performance improvement plans and monitors site progress and reporting. Participates in and contributes to the achievement of the site’s key performance indicators and Clinical Quality Initiatives as directed
  • Facilitates the completion of random and scheduled audits to assess site compliance with contractual requirements, accreditation standards, and continuous quality safety improvement (QAPI) opportunities. As directed, facilitates the completion of the appropriate QAPI forms and forwards findings/completed forms to Community/State leadership. Participates and serves on site-level QAPI committee
  • Conducts at minimum annual accreditation readiness audits to assess compliance with standards and identify opportunities for improvement. Devises a mechanism to track compliance with accreditation standards every day. As appropriate, develops action plans based on accreditation readiness audit findings. Collaborates with site leadership to implement plans and evaluate the effectiveness of action plans and modifies plan(s) as appropriate
  • Anticipates healthcare delivery and contractual issues and deals with potential issues proactively. Collaborates with site leadership and clients to meet the goals of the service contract in conjunction with regional leadership. Attends and reviews minutes on a regular basis for MAC meetings, Disease Management/Case Review and other healthcare-related site meetings. Reinforces and strengthens client satisfaction and related goals
  • Performs screening interviews with candidates for basic knowledge, skills within the corrections environment. Sets and communicates recruitment standards and takes accountability for recruiting effectiveness and compliance across their area of responsibility. Participates in the selection process for open site positions. Identifies high potential staff for development, promotion and succession opportunity-hire
  • Performs at-hire and annual clinical competency assessments and checks to promote the delivery of safe, effective and efficient nursing care. To promote goal accomplishment (site and individual level), policy compliance and professional development, schedules one-on-one monthly one on one meeting with direct reports. Provides developmental mentoring, formalized feedback, and coaching to staff. When appropriate, develops individual performance improvement plans for staff not meeting performance expectations
  • Participates in Pharmacy, Therapeutic, and Strategic Initiatives, Patient Safety/Sentinel Event Committee, Performance Improvement, Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Utilization Management and other process improvement committees/initiatives as directed or assigned
  • Supports Company Initiatives and the application of best practices in clinical settings. Assists in the completion of special projects on an as-needed basis. Works with others to determine where resource support should be allocated on a prioritization basis. Participates in the monthly Regional DON calls, initiatives and activities. Performs other duties as assigned

VitalCore Health Strategies is an equal opportunity employer and committed to creating and maintaining an inclusive workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the business and are valued for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

Keywords: Registered Nurse, RN, Nursing, Director of Nursing, DON, Medical, health, corrections, correctional facility, detention center, Augusta, Georgia, GA, Richmond County, Full Time, PTO, paid time off, benefits, insurance, 401k

Key Responsibilities

The Director of Nursing supervises and coordinates nursing personnel to ensure quality patient care within a correctional facility. They are responsible for clinical performance, staff training, and maintaining compliance with accreditation standards and contractual requirements.

Requirements

Candidates must be graduates of an accredited nursing school with at least 3 years of clinical experience. Previous clinical operations management experience and knowledge of correctional healthcare standards are preferred.

Qualifications

Experience
2+ years of experience

Certifications

Board Certification

Key Skills

Nursing ManagementStaff SupervisionPatient Care CoordinationClinical Competency AssessmentData Analysis

Correctional Healthcare — Registered Nurse Career Context

Of the 50 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 24% are remote, 48% have no call, 78% require no weekends.

The cost-of-living index for Georgia is 96.3 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 59.8% of Georgia clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Registered Nurse Jobs

44 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution43 jobs · 36 employers

13
<$95k
11
$95k-110k
7
$110k-125k
6
$125k-140k
6
$140k+

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks36 jobs

401k / retirement match
97% this job
Sign-on bonus
17% this job
Loan repayment
8%
CME allowance
3%
PSLF eligible
3%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

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Work-life snapshot

median 1.5this job 2.4
Better work-life than 60% of Nursing Leadership listings

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

  • Includes call

Living in Augusta

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$178k
Typical market rent
$1,369/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
91.9
State income tax
Up to 5.8%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026).

BEA 2024 · Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

VitalCore Health Strategies logo

About VitalCore Health Strategies

Hospitals and Health Care
Topeka, Kansas
1,001-5,000 employees

Benefits & Perks

Holiday Pay
Medical
Dental
Vision
Health Savings Account
Life Insurance
Short Term/Long Term Disability
Identity Theft Protection