Nursing Director (RN) Surgical Cardiovasular ICU Job Listing at MedStar Health in Washington, DC (Job ID 165083)

Description

About the Job

General Summary of Position

Lead One of the Nation's Premier Cardiovascular Critical Care Programs

Are you a visionary nursing leader with a passion for operational excellence and exceptional patient care? MedStar Washington Hospital Center is seeking a Nursing Director to lead our high-performing Surgical Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU), home to one of the region's most advanced cardiac surgery and heart failure programs.

As a Magnet-recognized and Pathway to Excellence® organization, we are committed to nursing excellence, innovation, and delivering extraordinary outcomes for some of the most complex cardiovascular patients in the country.

This is an outstanding opportunity to lead an expert team in a fast-paced, high-acuity, high-volume environment while partnering with nationally recognized surgeons, physicians, and interdisciplinary leaders to shape the future of cardiovascular critical care.

What You'll Lead

The Nursing Director provides strategic, clinical, and operational leadership for the Surgical CVICU, ensuring exceptional quality, safety, patient experience, and financial stewardship. Reporting to senior nursing leadership, this individual is responsible for developing a culture of accountability, collaboration, professional growth, and continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing operational oversight for a complex, high-volume cardiovascular intensive care unit.
• Leading recruitment, engagement, coaching, and development of nursing leaders and frontline associates.
• Driving quality, patient safety, regulatory compliance, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
• Managing departmental budgets, staffing, productivity, and resource utilization.
• Collaborating with physicians and multidisciplinary teams to optimize patient outcomes and operational performance.
• Promoting shared governance, professional development, and nursing excellence.
• Supporting strategic initiatives, performance improvement, and innovation throughout the service line.

Our Patients

The Surgical CVICU cares for some of the most medically complex patients, including those undergoing:

• Heart transplantation
• Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation and management
• Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery
• Complex valve repair and replacement surgery
• Advanced mechanical circulatory support therapies
• Other cutting-edge cardiovascular surgical procedures

This leader will oversee care delivery in an environment that embraces the latest technology and evidence-based practice while caring for critically ill patients requiring highly specialized nursing expertise.

What We're Looking For

We are seeking a collaborative, influential leader who thrives in a dynamic academic medical center and inspires teams to achieve exceptional results.

Ideal candidates will possess:

• Progressive nursing leadership experience within an acute care hospital.
• Strong operational and financial management experience.
• Demonstrated success leading high-performing critical care teams.
• Experience in cardiovascular, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac ICU, transplant, or advanced heart failure programs strongly preferred.
• Excellent communication, relationship-building, and change management skills.
• A commitment to associate engagement, professional development, and patient-centered care.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Nursing required.
• Master's degree in Nursing or related field preferred.
• Current RN licensure in the District of Columbia (or eligibility to obtain).
• BLS certification.
• National nursing specialty certification (or ability to obtain within one year).
• Five or more years of nursing experience with progressive leadership responsibilities.

Why MedStar Washington Hospital Center?

At MedStar Washington Hospital Center, you'll join an organization nationally recognized for nursing excellence, innovation, and compassionate care.

Highlights include:

• Magnet® designated for nursing excellence.
• Pathway to Excellence® recognized.
• One of the largest and most advanced cardiovascular programs in the Mid-Atlantic.
• Academic medical center with leading-edge technology and clinical innovation.
• Collaborative physician partnerships.
• Commitment to leadership development and career advancement.
• Opportunity to influence the future of cardiovascular critical care while making a lasting impact on patients, families, and the nursing profession.

If you're ready to lead an exceptional team delivering life-saving cardiovascular care in one of the region's most respected hospitals, we invite you to apply and become part of MedStar Washington Hospital Center's tradition of excellence