Premier Search is a nationwide healthcare executive search firm specializing in the recruitment of Directors of Nursing (DON) for skilled nursing, senior living, and post-acute healthcare organizations. With over 20 years of experience, we help operators hire nursing leaders who improve clinical outcomes, strengthen compliance, stabilize staff, and elevate overall facility performance across the United States.
Nationwide Director of Nursing Recruitment Expertise
The Director of Nursing is the clinical backbone of any healthcare organization. A strong DON ensures regulatory compliance, clinical quality, staff engagement, and resident safety—while a weak DON can expose facilities to survey risk, turnover, and operational instability.
Premier Search conducts nationwide Director of Nursing executive searches, identifying nursing leaders with proven success in:
- Clinical oversight and quality assurance
- CMS compliance and survey readiness
- Nurse recruitment, retention, and engagement
- Infection control and risk mitigation
- Census stability and interdisciplinary leadership
We recruit Directors of Nursing for single-site facilities, multi-site organizations, and regional healthcare operators nationwide.
Why Director of Nursing Hires Fail Without Specialized Search
Many Director of Nursing hires fail because organizations:
- Rely on internal promotions without leadership screening
- Use job boards that attract unqualified or short-tenured candidates
- Partner with generalist recruiters unfamiliar with clinical leadership demands
Premier Search specializes in passive Director of Nursing candidates—nursing leaders who are currently employed, respected, and successful in their roles. This allows us to deliver DONs who bring stability, confidence, and credibility from day one.
Director of Nursing Roles We Fill
We recruit Directors of Nursing for:
- Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs)
- Long-Term Care (LTC) Communities
- Assisted Living and Senior Living Organizations
- Post-Acute and Transitional Care Facilities
- Regional and Multi-Facility Nursing Leadership Roles
Each search is tailored to your organization’s:
- Clinical acuity and census
- Regulatory history
- Staffing challenges
- Leadership culture and expectations
Why Healthcare Operators Choose Premier Search
Healthcare organizations partner with Premier Search for Director of Nursing recruitment because we deliver:
- 20+ years of healthcare executive search experience
- Deep specialization in nursing and clinical leadership roles
- Access to high-performing, passive DON candidates
- Fast, targeted, and discreet search processes
- Nationwide reach with localized market knowledge
Our approach prioritizes long-term placement success, not short-term fixes.
Our Director of Nursing Executive Search Process
Our DON executive search process includes:
- Clinical and organizational assessment
- Targeted outreach to proven nursing leaders
- Leadership, compliance, and performance screening
- Culture and team-fit evaluation
- Shortlist presentation and interview coordination
This process ensures each Director of Nursing we present is fully aligned with your organization’s clinical and operational goals.
Frequently Asked Questions About Director of Nursing Search
What makes a great Director of Nursing?
A great DON combines clinical expertise, leadership presence, regulatory knowledge, and the ability to motivate and retain nursing staff while maintaining high standards of care.
How long does a Director of Nursing search take?
Most Premier Search DON searches deliver qualified candidates within 2–4 weeks, depending on market conditions and role complexity.
Do you provide nationwide Director of Nursing search services?
Yes. Premier Search conducts nationwide Director of Nursing executive searches across all regions of the United States.
Do you recruit interim or turnaround Directors of Nursing?
Yes. We assist with permanent, interim, and turnaround Director of Nursing placements.
Start Your Director of Nursing Executive Search
If your organization is hiring a Director of Nursing and requires strong clinical leadership, compliance confidence, and staff stability, Premier Search is ready to help.
Contact Premier Search today to begin your Director of Nursing executive search.