Assistant Chief Nursing Office (ACNO) – Grow Your Career Nursing Directors!

Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO)

Job Summary

The Assistant Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) plays a critical leadership role in advancing high-quality, patient-centered care across the organization. Reporting to and partnering with the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO), the ACNO supports executive-level management of clinical resources, strategic initiatives, and operational excellence.

The ACNO holds operational and functional responsibility for assigned patient care areas and/or strategic projects, while developing the communication, leadership, professionalism, and business acumen required to progress into a Chief Nursing Officer role.

Key Responsibilities

Quality & Patient Safety

• Assists the CNO in developing and implementing nursing policies and procedures aligned with professional standards of practice and regulatory requirements.
• Conducts regular leadership rounds with patients, families, physicians, and staff to strengthen communication, ensure operational alignment, and enhance the overall care experience.
• Leads and supports continuous performance improvement initiatives that measure, monitor, and improve the quality and safety of care in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Ensures timely and thorough follow-up of patient complaints, safety events, and occurrence reports.
• Identifies system-level risks and process gaps, monitors corrective actions, and ensures sustainable resolution of identified issues.

Service Excellence

• Promotes a culture of consistent, compassionate, and patient-centered service across all assigned areas.
• Maintains a patient-first philosophy and actively engages in service recovery when needed.
• Supports the development and execution of strategies to improve patient experience and satisfaction.
• Helps create a professional practice environment that supports recruitment, engagement, and retention of nursing staff.
• Fosters a culture that supports evidence-based practice, clinical inquiry, and nursing research.
• Serves as a role model for professional integrity, ethical practice, and accountability.

People & Leadership

• Encourages autonomy, accountability, and independent decision-making among nursing leaders and staff.
• Provides leadership that drives engagement, shared ownership of goals, and active participation in decisions impacting nursing practice.
• Supports ongoing professional development, education, and succession planning for nursing staff.
• Serves as a preceptor or instructor for undergraduate or graduate nursing students as requested.
• Collaborates with nursing education teams to identify learning needs, ensure effective onboarding, and support competency development.
• Works collaboratively with interdisciplinary teams and support departments to promote open communication, shared problem-solving, and joint performance improvement initiatives.
• Builds and maintains strong relationships with physician partners and other healthcare providers to establish goals and implement improvements in patient care delivery.

Growth & Strategic Development

• Assists in planning and implementing new services and initiatives that support organizational growth and financial sustainability.
• Participates in planning and execution of renovation, expansion, or new construction projects within patient care areas.
• Leads or supports assigned projects and task forces, ensuring timely progress and clear communication with stakeholders.

Education & Experience

• Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN) — Required
• Master’s Degree in Nursing (MSN) — Required
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in a supervisory nursing role — Required
• Minimum of 5 years of direct nursing leadership experience in an acute care hospital setting — Required

Licensure & Certification

• Current licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state(s) of practice, or possession of an active compact nursing license, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations — Required

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