Director of Nursing - In Training

Position Summary

The Director of Nursing in Training (DONIT) is a leadership development position designed to prepare a licensed Registered Nurse for a future Director of Nursing role. Under the guidance and mentorship of the Director of Nursing and Administrator, the DONIT will gain progressive responsibility for clinical operations, regulatory compliance, quality improvement, staff management, and resident care outcomes. This role provides hands-on experience in nursing leadership while ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and resident-centered care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Partner with the Director of Nursing to oversee daily nursing operations.


• Assist in managing resident care services to ensure quality and regulatory compliance.


• Participate in clinical rounds and resident care reviews.


• Monitor resident outcomes and identify opportunities for quality improvement.


• Support infection prevention and control programs.


• Learn and assist with compliance related to federal, state, and local regulations.


• Participate in surveys, audits, and regulatory inspections.


• Assist with developing and implementing plans of correction.


• Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) activities.


• Analyze clinical indicators, quality measures, incident reports, and trends.


• Assist with recruitment, onboarding, and retention of nursing staff.


• Support staff education, training, and competency validation programs.


• Assist in staffing, scheduling, and workforce planning.


• Support implementation of organizational goals and strategic initiatives.


• Collaborate with physicians, advanced practice providers, interdisciplinary team members, residents, and families.


• Participate in care conferences and leadership meetings.


• Maintain effective communication with nursing teams across all shifts.


• Complete assigned leadership training and mentoring activities.


• Demonstrate increasing independence in leadership responsibilities.


• Prepare for transition into a Director of Nursing position.


• Perform other duties as required.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities and Qualifications

• Graduate of an accredited school of nursing.


• Current unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice.


• Valid Adult Basic First Aid and CPR Certification.


• Previous charge nurse, supervisor, unit manager, assistant director of nursing, or similar leadership experience preferred.

• Experience in long-term care, skilled nursing, rehabilitation, or post-acute care strongly preferred.

• Align with the Organization's mission and values, delivering high-quality, person-centered care with dignity, respect, compassion, and integrity.


• Ability to interact professionally with residents, families, staff, and the public, and handle challenging situations with respect.


• Understanding and adherence to relevant regulations, policies, and procedures.


• Effective team member with strong communication and cooperation skills.


• Ability to organize, prioritize, and meet deadlines.


• Follow instructions, accept feedback, and function well in a dynamic environment.

Career Path

Successful completion of the Director of Nursing in Training program may qualify the incumbent for promotion to:

• Assistant Director of Nursing (if applicable)


• Director of Nursing

Reports To: Director of Nursing and/or Administrator