About this role
Summary
Job Description:
Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer
Baptist Health Louisville | Louisville, Kentucky
Executive Leadership Opportunity
Baptist Health Louisville is seeking an accomplished, visionary nursing executive to serve as Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) . As a four-time Magnet®-designated hospital, Baptist Health Louisville has a distinguished tradition of nursing excellence, exceptional patient care, and professional practice. We are seeking a transformational leader who will build upon this foundation while advancing clinical innovation, strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration, and inspiring nursing excellence.
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The Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer serves as a key member of the hospital's executive leadership team, providing strategic direction and operational oversight for nursing services throughout the organization. This executive is responsible for establishing standards of professional nursing practice, developing organization-wide patient care programs, and ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care in accordance with Kentucky nursing laws and regulatory requirements.
The CNO partners with executive leadership, the governing body, medical staff, and clinical leaders to advance organizational priorities, improve patient outcomes, and promote operational excellence. This position provides executive oversight of nursing policies, professional practice standards, quality improvement initiatives, and patient safety programs while championing a strong shared-governance structure that empowers nursing professionals and supports continued Magnet® excellence.
Additional responsibilities include advancing nursing workforce strategies, leadership development, employee engagement, and succession planning while promoting responsible resource stewardship. The CNO also participates in evaluating and implementing healthcare technologies, clinical information systems, and innovative care delivery models that enhance patient outcomes and operational effectiveness.
Requirements:
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- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and a master's degree in Nursing or Healthcare Leadership required. Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) or PhD preferred.
- Minimum of 15 years of senior nursing leadership experience in an acute care hospital setting required.
- Current Kentucky Registered Nurse license required.
- Leadership certification through ACHE, AONL, or KONL required at the time of hire or within two years of employment.
- Demonstrated expertise in organizational change management, with a proven record of successfully implementing new programs, processes, systems, and innovative patient care delivery models.
- Exceptional mentoring, interpersonal, analytical, and financial management skills, coupled with political acumen and the ability to establish and sustain strong physician relationships.
- Demonstrated success influencing organizational strategy, building collaborative partnerships, and leading high-performing teams is essential.
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This is an exceptional opportunity to influence the strategic direction of nursing within a highly respected healthcare organization committed to quality, innovation, and professional excellence. The successful candidate will play an instrumental role in shaping the future of nursing while continuing Baptist Health Louisville's legacy of outstanding patient care.