Director Nursing - Women's & Children's Service Line

Meritus Health is seeking a dynamic **Director of Nursing - Women's & Children's Service Line** to lead one of the most impactful areas of care in our organization. This leader will guide clinical excellence across **Labor, Delivery, Recovery & Postpartum (LDRP), Special Care Nursery, and Pediatric/Medical-Surgical services**, supporting families and children through some of life's most important moments. Reporting directly to the **Chief Nursing Officer** , the Director will oversee a high-performing team and play a critical role in advancing patient-centered care, strengthening clinical operations, and supporting strategic growth for our Women's and Children's programs. This is an exciting leadership opportunity for a nurse executive passionate about advancing maternal and pediatric care, developing teams, and driving continuous improvement in a collaborative healthcare environment. **About the Women 's & Children's Service Line** Our Women's & Children's service line supports a vibrant and growing community with approximately **2,000 births annually** and a multidisciplinary care team committed to delivering exceptional outcomes for mothers, newborns, and pediatric patients. The service line includes: * **24-bed Labor, Delivery, Recovery & Postpartum Unit (LDRP)** * **12-bed Special Care Nursery (SCN)** * **26-bed Pediatric / Medical-Surgical Unit** The Director provides leadership for approximately **75 -80 FTEs**, including **two Clinical Managers and an Assistant Nurse Manager** , while partnering closely with physicians, clinical educators, and operational leaders to deliver high-quality care and enhance service line performance. **Key Leadership Responsibilities** The Director of Nursing will provide strategic and operational leadership across the Women's & Children's service line. Key priorities include: * Leading and developing clinical leaders and staff to support high-quality, patient- and family-centered care * Advancing nursing practice standards consistent with **AWHONN perinatal guidelines** * Overseeing clinical operations for **LDRP, Special Care Nursery, and Pediatric/Med-Surg services** * Driving service line growth, operational efficiency, and performance improvement initiatives * Supporting implementation of enhanced clinical capabilities including **cesarean-section program operations** * Developing and monitoring **operational dashboards and quality metrics** * Ensuring compliance with regulatory, accreditation, and professional practice standards * Partnering with physician leadership and interdisciplinary teams to improve outcomes and patient experience * Managing departmental budgets, staffing models, and fiscal performance * Supporting innovation in maternal-child health programs, including initiatives such as **donor milk programs** **What We 're Looking For** We are seeking a collaborative and forward-thinking nursing leader with a strong background in **maternal-child health and service line leadership**. Ideal candidates will bring: * Experience leading **Women 's & Children's or maternal-child health programs** * Expertise in **LDRP and perinatal care environments** * Knowledge of **Special Care Nursery or neonatal services** * Pediatric and/or adult medical-surgical leadership experience * Demonstrated ability to **develop leaders, build strong teams, and drive operational improvements** * Experience managing **quality dashboards, performance improvement initiatives, and clinical operations** **Minimum Qualifications** * Bachelor's in Nursing required * Master's degree in Nursing, Healthcare Administration, or related field preferred * Minimum **five years of progressive management experience in a complex healthcare environment** * Current **Registered Nurse license** eligible for practice in Maryland * Professional certification in **nursing leadership or maternal-child specialty preferred** * Experience with **AWHONN perinatal standards preferred** **Why Join Meritus Health?** At Meritus Health, our mission is to improve the health of the communities we serve. Our Women's & Children's team is dedicated to delivering safe, compassionate care while continuously advancing the quality of maternal and pediatric services. As Director of Nursing, you will have the opportunity to: * Lead and shape a vital service line within a growing health system * Mentor and develop emerging nurse leaders * Advance maternal-child health initiatives that directly impact families in our region * Collaborate with an engaged leadership team committed to clinical excellence ** Caring for Our Team**** **We offer a comprehensive benefits package to support our employees' well-being and professional growth. Benefits include health, dental, and vision insurance available starting the 1st of the month following date of hire, along with life insurance, & short and long-term disability coverage. Paid Time Off begins accruing from day one, and we also provide a 401k plan, an education assistance program, and an employee assistance program. Additionally, employees working evening, night, or weekend shifts may be eligible for a shift differential, adding even more value to your role. **Happy to Help** At Meritus, we believe in a collaborative and caring work environment. Interactions are an opportunity to learn, listen and to be there for one another. Therefore, we provide warm welcomes, hospitality-driven closures, and are always Happy to Help.