Job Description
Job Description
Interim Director of Nursing (DON)
Contract Leadership | Skilled Nursing / Long-Term Care | Rochester, NH
⏱ Interim Contract | 9 Weeks | Start 3/30/26 | 40 Hours Guaranteed Weekly
Position Overview
Ambition 24 Hours is seeking an experienced, licensed Registered Nurse to serve as Interim Director of Nursing at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Rochester, New Hampshire. This is a contract leadership role covering a defined 9-week engagement, providing clinical oversight, regulatory compliance stewardship, and continuity of care during a leadership transition. The successful candidate will bring a proven track record in SNF/LTC nursing leadership, a strong command of CMS guidelines and state survey preparedness, and the ability to step in and lead with confidence from day one.
Position Details
Location
Rochester, NH 03867
Setting
Skilled Nursing Facility / Long-Term Care
Employment Type
Interim Contract
Contract Length
9 Weeks (3/30/2026 – 5/25/2026)
Shift
Day shift | 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 30-min meal break
Hours Guaranteed
40 hours per week
Pay Range
$65.00 – $70.00 per hour (commensurate with experience)
Pay Frequency
Weekly
Key Responsibilities
- Direct and oversee all nursing operations, staffing, and clinical care delivery across all units
- Ensure full compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, state licensure requirements, and facility policies
- Lead survey readiness activities; serve as primary point of contact during regulatory inspections
- Develop, review, and update nursing policies, procedures, and care protocols
- Oversee resident assessments, care planning, and interdisciplinary team coordination
- Monitor quality indicators (QMs/QIs) and implement performance improvement initiatives
- Manage nursing department budget, staffing schedules, and resource allocation
- Mentor, coach, and provide clinical guidance to ADON, charge nurses, and floor staff
- Collaborate with the Administrator, Medical Director, and department heads on clinical and operational matters
- Conduct and support incident investigations, grievance resolution, and root cause analysis
- Maintain compliance with infection control protocols and documentation standards
Qualifications
Education
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) minimum; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
Licensure
- Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licence — New Hampshire or compact state licence required
- Current CPR/BLS certification
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of nursing leadership experience in a skilled nursing or long-term care setting
- Prior DON, ADON, or equivalent director-level SNF experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated familiarity with MDS/RAI process, care planning, and Five-Star Quality Rating System
- Experience managing CMS survey process and state inspections
- Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) in SNF environment
Other
- Strong communication, team leadership, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to engage quickly in a new environment and build rapport with staff and residents