Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), Behavioral Health
Listed compensation
$138k-$220k
The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed
Ask the employer about call expectations, weekend coverage, nights and shift pattern and time off.
Job Description
Chief Nursing Officer, Behavioral Health (CNO)
Sets the vision for nursing practice in the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable and patient centered care.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams, other departments and administration to ensure that all residents’ physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental and cultural needs are met and when they are not met, acknowledges and works to resolve customer complaints.
Direct, supervise and evaluate work activities of all nursing personnel.
Provide clinical leadership, strategic and long-term goals for the nursing staff.
Anticipates and effectively manage changes in census and acuity and allocates nursing resources based on measurement of patient acuity/care needed.
Role model expectations related to customer service and demonstrated sense of urgency related to the importance of patient safety.
- Determine, assign, and assess performance objectives for nursing department.
- Organize, coordinate, develop and review policies, procedures and nursing protocols within the facility to meet all regulatory, compliance and quality care standards.
- Responsible for the quality of care, operational and financial efficiency of the nursing department.
- Lead and develop the nursing staff within the facility, providing performance goals, feedback and development opportunities.
- Set and carry out policies, goals and procedures for their function or department.
- Evaluate the quality of care, staff's work and the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the function or department.
- Develop and oversee functions or departmental budget and reporting.
- Provide staff management to include hiring, development, training, performance management and communication to ensure effective and efficient department operation.
- Master’s degree in nursing or mental health nursing strongly preferred.
- Bachelor’s degree in nursing or commensurate experience required.
10+ Years RN experience preferred. 6 years RN experience required.
- Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital strongly preferred.
- Prior CNO/DON experience strongly preferred.
- 2 years behavioral health experience as and RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required
- 3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.
Provide direct care as needed. Direct and conduct recruitment, hiring and training of personnel.
Compensation
Base Salary - USD $138,000 to $200,000
Candidate Details
10+ to 15 years experience
Seniority Level - Executive
Management Experience Required - No
Minimum Education - Bachelor's Degree
Willingness to Travel - Never
Screening Questions
Do you have 10+ Years RN experience preferred. 6 years RN experience required.
- Do you have Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital.
- Do you have at least 2 years behavioral health experience as and RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required
- Do you have 3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.
- Do you have Prior CNO/DON experience.
Ideal Candidate
The CNO needs to have inpatient BH exp multiple years of it, nursing leadership experience.
Key Responsibilities
The Chief Nursing Officer sets the vision for nursing practice and oversees the operational and financial efficiency of the nursing department. They are responsible for leading interdisciplinary teams, managing nursing staff, and ensuring compliance with regulatory and quality care standards.
Requirements
Candidates must have a Bachelor's degree in nursing and at least 6 years of RN experience, with 3 years in progressive nursing management. A Master's degree and prior experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital are strongly preferred.
Qualifications
- Education
- Master's degree (postgraduate degree)
- Experience
- 10+ years of experience
Key Skills
Behavioral Health — Registered Nurse Career Context
Of the 50 active Nursing Leadership listings this role was benchmarked against, 32% are remote, 64% have no call, 76% require no weekends.
The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)), so the posted ~$179k midpoint carries the purchasing power of roughly $162k in an average-cost state. 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).
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