Aspiranet
Join Aspiranet as a
Director of Nursing
(DON) in Santa Cruz, California. Full-time, exempt, Monday‑Friday 8:00 AM‑5:00 PM, pay $130,000‑$145,000 + up to $5,000 relocation bonus or $2,500 Hiring and Retention Bonus.
Location:
Santa Cruz, CA
Schedule:
Full‑Time | Exempt | Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Department:
Behavioral Health / Residential
Reports To:
Associate Division Director
Pay Range:
$130,000.00 – $145,000.00 Annually
Bonus:
Up to $5,000 relocation OR $2,500 Hiring and Retention Bonus.
About Aspiranet
Aspiranet is a mission‑driven social services agency dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families across California. Founded in 1975, it offers programs in foster care, transitional youth, residential treatment, intensive home‑based services, behavioral health, and community family support.
Position Summary
The Director of Nursing provides strategic and operational leadership for all nursing and health services in the Short‑Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) and Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) for youth. The DON ensures delivery of high‑quality, trauma‑informed, and culturally responsive healthcare services, aligning with agency mission, state regulations, and best practices.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Oversight
Directly supervise all nursing personnel (RNs, LVNs, and medical support staff) for STRTP and CSU programs.
Establish performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and ensure clinical competency through supervision and training.
Plan, organize, and oversee daily nursing operations to ensure proper staffing, shift coverage, and continuity of care.
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring of new nursing staff.
Develop and manage nursing department budgets, staffing models, and supply inventory.
Clinical Governance & Policy
Create, review, and update nursing policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines to ensure compliance with Title 22, CCL, DHCS, and Joint Commission standards.
Serve as the nursing authority for internal audits, licensing inspections, and accreditation reviews.
Oversee infection control, medication management, and clinical documentation protocols.
Develop and monitor health and safety plans, ensuring adherence to agency and regulatory requirements.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborate with medical directors, psychiatrists, therapists, and administrators to promote holistic and coordinated care.
Participate in leadership and treatment team meetings, providing expert consultation on medical and psychiatric care integration.
Partner with external healthcare agencies, hospitals, and community providers to coordinate youth medical services.
Training, Development, and Quality Improvement
Design and deliver health education and nursing competency training programs for nursing and non‑nursing staff.
Develop and track nursing quality improvement initiatives (e.g., medication error reduction, infection control, care outcomes).
Maintain performance data, evaluate trends, and make evidence‑based recommendations for program improvement.
Provide leadership in trauma‑informed and culturally responsive nursing practices.
Strategic and Compliance Leadership
Serve as the primary liaison with licensing and regulatory entities.
Ensure compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, and all professional nursing standards of practice.
Participate in strategic planning and contribute to agency‑wide initiatives related to health service delivery.
Lead emergency preparedness and on‑call response protocols for health‑related situations.
Clinical Engagement
Provide direct nursing care when staffing needs require, or to support youth during complex health or behavioral crises.
Conduct nursing assessments and oversee the implementation of individualized healthcare plans.
Monitor youth for medication side effects or acute medical changes and provide guidance to nursing staff in real time.
Support youth education in wellness, medication adherence, nutrition, and preventive health practices.
Maintain clinical documentation consistent with agency and state standards when providing direct services.
Crisis Response
Act as the nursing lead during on‑site medical or behavioral emergencies.
Support de‑escalation and crisis intervention teams in implementing safety and stabilization plans.
Provide clinical consultation to program leadership on high‑risk youth or incidents involving medical issues.
Required Qualifications
Current and valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California.
Minimum five (5) years of nursing experience, with at least three (3) years in leadership within behavioral health, residential treatment, or pediatric/adolescent settings.
Demonstrated experience with Title 22, CCL, and DHCS regulations governing STRTP or similar facilities.
Strong leadership, organizational, and decision‑making skills in dynamic, multidisciplinary environments.
Knowledge of psychotropic medications, trauma‑informed care, and adolescent development.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) preferred.
Onsite attendance is required to meet client/patient need.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, or Healthcare Administration.
Experience managing nursing teams in residential or crisis stabilization programs.
Physical Demands and Abilities
Stand, walk, sit, and use hands to reach, handle, and maneuver objects and equipment throughout the shift.
Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds; walk up to a mile at a time.
May be required to place youth in physical holds utilizing Safety‑Care protocols during crisis intervention situations to prevent youth from harming themselves or others.
Communication
Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with coworkers, supervisors, and youth.
Must be able to comprehend, follow, and clearly convey instructions to others.
Must be computer proficient and be able to work on a computer daily.
Work Environment & Schedule
The role is fully on‑site in a short‑term residential therapeutic setting. Standard office environment, quiet noise level. Hybrid schedule not applicable.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem‑solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole.
How to Apply
Ready to apply? Click the button below to apply through our career portal.
Apply Today Through Our Career Portal
Click here to apply:
www.aspiranet.org/careers
#J-18808-Ljbffr
Director of Nursing
(DON) in Santa Cruz, California. Full-time, exempt, Monday‑Friday 8:00 AM‑5:00 PM, pay $130,000‑$145,000 + up to $5,000 relocation bonus or $2,500 Hiring and Retention Bonus.
Location:
Santa Cruz, CA
Schedule:
Full‑Time | Exempt | Monday – Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Department:
Behavioral Health / Residential
Reports To:
Associate Division Director
Pay Range:
$130,000.00 – $145,000.00 Annually
Bonus:
Up to $5,000 relocation OR $2,500 Hiring and Retention Bonus.
About Aspiranet
Aspiranet is a mission‑driven social services agency dedicated to supporting children, youth, and families across California. Founded in 1975, it offers programs in foster care, transitional youth, residential treatment, intensive home‑based services, behavioral health, and community family support.
Position Summary
The Director of Nursing provides strategic and operational leadership for all nursing and health services in the Short‑Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) and Crisis Stabilization Unit (CSU) for youth. The DON ensures delivery of high‑quality, trauma‑informed, and culturally responsive healthcare services, aligning with agency mission, state regulations, and best practices.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Oversight
Directly supervise all nursing personnel (RNs, LVNs, and medical support staff) for STRTP and CSU programs.
Establish performance expectations, conduct evaluations, and ensure clinical competency through supervision and training.
Plan, organize, and oversee daily nursing operations to ensure proper staffing, shift coverage, and continuity of care.
Lead recruitment, onboarding, and mentoring of new nursing staff.
Develop and manage nursing department budgets, staffing models, and supply inventory.
Clinical Governance & Policy
Create, review, and update nursing policies, procedures, and clinical guidelines to ensure compliance with Title 22, CCL, DHCS, and Joint Commission standards.
Serve as the nursing authority for internal audits, licensing inspections, and accreditation reviews.
Oversee infection control, medication management, and clinical documentation protocols.
Develop and monitor health and safety plans, ensuring adherence to agency and regulatory requirements.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
Collaborate with medical directors, psychiatrists, therapists, and administrators to promote holistic and coordinated care.
Participate in leadership and treatment team meetings, providing expert consultation on medical and psychiatric care integration.
Partner with external healthcare agencies, hospitals, and community providers to coordinate youth medical services.
Training, Development, and Quality Improvement
Design and deliver health education and nursing competency training programs for nursing and non‑nursing staff.
Develop and track nursing quality improvement initiatives (e.g., medication error reduction, infection control, care outcomes).
Maintain performance data, evaluate trends, and make evidence‑based recommendations for program improvement.
Provide leadership in trauma‑informed and culturally responsive nursing practices.
Strategic and Compliance Leadership
Serve as the primary liaison with licensing and regulatory entities.
Ensure compliance with HIPAA, OSHA, and all professional nursing standards of practice.
Participate in strategic planning and contribute to agency‑wide initiatives related to health service delivery.
Lead emergency preparedness and on‑call response protocols for health‑related situations.
Clinical Engagement
Provide direct nursing care when staffing needs require, or to support youth during complex health or behavioral crises.
Conduct nursing assessments and oversee the implementation of individualized healthcare plans.
Monitor youth for medication side effects or acute medical changes and provide guidance to nursing staff in real time.
Support youth education in wellness, medication adherence, nutrition, and preventive health practices.
Maintain clinical documentation consistent with agency and state standards when providing direct services.
Crisis Response
Act as the nursing lead during on‑site medical or behavioral emergencies.
Support de‑escalation and crisis intervention teams in implementing safety and stabilization plans.
Provide clinical consultation to program leadership on high‑risk youth or incidents involving medical issues.
Required Qualifications
Current and valid Registered Nurse (RN) license in the State of California.
Minimum five (5) years of nursing experience, with at least three (3) years in leadership within behavioral health, residential treatment, or pediatric/adolescent settings.
Demonstrated experience with Title 22, CCL, and DHCS regulations governing STRTP or similar facilities.
Strong leadership, organizational, and decision‑making skills in dynamic, multidisciplinary environments.
Knowledge of psychotropic medications, trauma‑informed care, and adolescent development.
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification; Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) preferred.
Onsite attendance is required to meet client/patient need.
Preferred Qualifications
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Nursing, Public Health, or Healthcare Administration.
Experience managing nursing teams in residential or crisis stabilization programs.
Physical Demands and Abilities
Stand, walk, sit, and use hands to reach, handle, and maneuver objects and equipment throughout the shift.
Lift and/or carry up to 50 pounds; walk up to a mile at a time.
May be required to place youth in physical holds utilizing Safety‑Care protocols during crisis intervention situations to prevent youth from harming themselves or others.
Communication
Communicates clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing, with coworkers, supervisors, and youth.
Must be able to comprehend, follow, and clearly convey instructions to others.
Must be computer proficient and be able to work on a computer daily.
Work Environment & Schedule
The role is fully on‑site in a short‑term residential therapeutic setting. Standard office environment, quiet noise level. Hybrid schedule not applicable.
Equal Employment Opportunity
Aspiranet is an equal opportunity employer that recognizes the value of diversity. We believe a diverse workforce within a culture of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) increases creativity, innovation, problem‑solving, and teamwork for the youth and families that we serve and the organization as a whole.
How to Apply
Ready to apply? Click the button below to apply through our career portal.
Apply Today Through Our Career Portal
Click here to apply:
www.aspiranet.org/careers
#J-18808-Ljbffr