Director of Nursing (DON)

Regency Senior Living | Morristown, TN

Join the Regency Team!

At Regency Senior Living, we believe exceptional senior care starts with exceptional people. We are committed to creating a welcoming, supportive environment where residents feel valued, families have peace of mind, and team members are empowered to make a meaningful difference.

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Director of Nursing (DON) to lead our nursing and caregiving teams. This position plays a vital role in ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of our residents while maintaining high standards of clinical care, regulatory compliance, and team performance.

Why Join Regency?

At Regency, we believe in taking care of the people who take care of our residents. We strive to provide a positive workplace where employees feel supported, appreciated, and encouraged to grow.

Supportive Leadership: Our leaders are invested not only in the success of each community, but also in the growth of each team member as an individual.
Meaningful Work: Make a lasting impact on the lives of seniors and their families.
Professional Growth: Opportunities to develop your leadership skills and advance your career.
Team-Oriented Culture: Work alongside dedicated professionals who share your passion for exceptional senior care.
Opportunity to Lead: Play a key role in shaping clinical standards, developing employees, and improving resident outcomes.

About the Role

The Director of Nursing is responsible for overseeing the clinical operations and resident care services within our assisted living and memory care community.

This position provides leadership and direction to nursing staff, caregivers, and care coordinators while ensuring residents receive safe, compassionate, and individualized care.

The DON works closely with residents, families, physicians, and community leadership to maintain clinical excellence, promote resident satisfaction, and ensure compliance with applicable state and federal regulations.

What You'll Do

Clinical Leadership & Resident Care

Oversee the delivery of quality nursing and personal care services to all residents.
Conduct or oversee pre-admission, admission, and readmission assessments.
Monitor resident health conditions and ensure significant changes are promptly assessed, documented, and addressed.
Develop, implement, and maintain individualized resident care plans.
Oversee annual assisted living assessments, medical examination forms, and care plan updates.
Ensure memory care residents receive required monthly assessments and care plan reviews.
Review physician orders, medication documentation, laboratory results, and other clinical records for accuracy and completeness.
Respond to resident emergencies and coordinate appropriate medical interventions.
Coordinate resident transfers to hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and other healthcare facilities when necessary.

Team Leadership & Development

Recruit, interview, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate nursing and caregiving staff.
Provide guidance, coaching, and accountability to ensure consistent standards of care.
Oversee staffing and scheduling to maintain appropriate coverage and regulatory compliance.
Identify staff development needs and coordinate ongoing education and training.
Ensure employees receive appropriate training in infection prevention, universal precautions, dementia care, pain management, and end-of-life care.
Foster a positive, collaborative work environment that encourages teamwork, professional development, and employee engagement.
Address employee concerns and participate in performance management and corrective action when necessary.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

Ensure clinical operations comply with applicable Tennessee regulations and organizational policies.
Maintain accurate, organized, and current resident medical records.
Monitor documentation practices and train staff on appropriate clinical documentation standards.
Promote infection prevention, resident safety, and quality improvement initiatives.
Assist with regulatory inspections, surveys, and corrective action plans.
Maintain appropriate clinical policies, procedures, and standards of care.

Communication & Community Engagement

Build strong, professional relationships with residents, families, physicians, and healthcare partners.
Serve as a trusted resource for families regarding resident health, care needs, and changes in condition.
Maintain an open-door approach to addressing concerns and resolving issues.
Collaborate with hospitals, home health agencies, laboratories, and other healthcare providers.
Support community outreach, referral relationships, and resident admission efforts.
Partner with community leadership to promote resident satisfaction and operational success.

What We're Looking For

Required Qualifications

Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of Tennessee.
Minimum of three years of experience in assisted living, memory care, long-term care, or a related healthcare setting.
Current CPR certification or ability to obtain and maintain certification as required.
Strong understanding of resident assessments, individualized care planning, clinical documentation, and nursing standards.
Excellent communication, organization, and problem-solving skills.
Ability to lead, motivate, and develop a team while maintaining high standards of accountability.
Genuine compassion for seniors, including individuals experiencing cognitive, physical, or memory-related impairments.

Preferred Characteristics

Previous nursing management or clinical leadership experience.
Experience overseeing assisted living and memory care operations.
Familiarity with Tennessee assisted living regulations and survey processes.
Ability to balance clinical responsibilities with staffing, compliance, and operational priorities.
A proactive, hands-on leadership style and a commitment to continuous improvement.

Schedule & Work Environment

This is a full-time leadership position requiring flexibility to meet resident care needs, support staff, and respond to emergencies as necessary.

Physical Requirements

Ability to stand or walk for up to six hours per day.
Ability to sit for up to four hours per day.
Ability to frequently support up to 50 pounds.
Ability to occasionally lift or carry up to 15 pounds.
Ability to frequently kneel, bend, and reach.