Assistant Director of Nursing (RN) Acute Medicine

About the Job Job Summary  The Assistant Director of Nursing (RN) for Acute Medicine at Washington Hospital Center is a key member of the MedStar Health entity-based Division of Nursing and nursing leadership team. In collaboration with the Director of Nursing, the ADON provides leadership, oversight, and operational management for the assigned unit(s), directing and coordinating nursing and patient care delivery by professional and support staff.

This role ensures the provision of holistic, culturally competent, person-centered, high-quality, safe, and cost-effective evidence-based nursing care for patients and families, while applying the nursing process within MedStar Health’s shared governance and collaborative decision-making framework. The ADON supports patient transitions across the continuum of care to promote optimal health outcomes and assumes administrative and leadership responsibility on a 24-hour, 7-day-per-week basis for the unit/department.

The ADON fosters staff engagement and accountability for quality, safety, and cost-conscious outcomes, ensures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, and consistently demonstrates leadership behaviors aligned with MedStar Health’s mission, vision, goals, SPIRIT values, patient care philosophy, and ethical standards. Primary Duties and Responsibilities In collaboration with the Director of Nursing, develops department goals, objectives, policies, and procedures and ensures compliance with hospital policies and procedures, clinical practice guidelines, and regulatory and accreditation standards.

Provides clinical and operational leadership for an acute-care Medicine/Surgical unit, ensuring nursing practice is consistent with standards for the care of acutely ill hospitalized patients and patients with complex medical conditions. Provides visible, shift-based nursing leadership and serves as a clinical resource to registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, patient care technicians, charge nurses, and other members of the healthcare team.

Demonstrates the ability to assess, prioritize, and respond to changes in patient condition, including escalation of clinical concerns, coordination with providers and rapid response resources, and appropriate use of the chain of command. Ensures appropriate staffing and patient assignments based on patient acuity, census, nurse competencies, clinical needs, and anticipated changes in patient volume or condition.

Supports patient throughout and capacity management, including admissions, discharges, transfers, bed placement, and coordination of care across departments to facilitate timely movement of patients throughout the hospital. Develops and maintains effective relationships with physicians, advanced practice providers, nursing leadership, ancillary departments, case management, care management, environmental services, and other interdisciplinary partners to support efficient and high-quality patient care.

Implements strategies to optimize patient outcomes and the interdisciplinary model of care. Rounds on patients and associates to evaluate care delivery, identify barriers, address concerns, and improve the patient and family experience. Supports and promotes quality and patient safety initiatives and high-reliability standards. Leads unit-based safety huddles and ensures timely escalation and follow-up of patient safety concerns, clinical events, and changes in patient condition.

Monitors unit performance related to nursing-sensitive indicators, falls, pressure injuries, hospital-acquired conditions, medication safety, patient deterioration, readmissions, patient experience, and other identified quality metrics and participates in performance improvement initiatives. Coaches and develops nursing staff while maintaining accountability for professional practice, clinical performance, attendance, conduct, and adherence to established standards.

Collaborates with the Director of Nursing in recruitment, selection, onboar