Interim Director of Nursing (DON)
Contract Leadership | Skilled Nursing / Long-Term Care | Rochester, NH
⏱ Interim Contract | 9 Weeks | Start 3/30/26 | 40 Hours Guaranteed Weekly
Ambition 24 Hours is seeking an experienced, licensed Registered Nurse to serve as Interim Director of Nursing at a skilled nursing and rehabilitation facility in Rochester, New Hampshire. This is a contract leadership role covering a defined 9-week engagement, providing clinical oversight, regulatory compliance stewardship, and continuity of care during a leadership transition. The successful candidate will bring a proven track record in SNF/LTC nursing leadership, a strong command of CMS guidelines and state survey preparedness, and the ability to step in and lead with confidence from day one.
Location
Rochester, NH 03867
Setting
Skilled Nursing Facility / Long-Term Care
Employment Type
Interim Contract
Contract Length
9 Weeks (3/30/2026 – 5/25/2026)
Shift
Day shift | 7:00 AM – 3:30 PM | 30-min meal break
Hours Guaranteed
40 hours per week
Pay Range
$65.00 – $70.00 per hour (commensurate with experience)
Pay Frequency
Weekly
- Direct and oversee all nursing operations, staffing, and clinical care delivery across all units
- Ensure full compliance with CMS Conditions of Participation, state licensure requirements, and facility policies
- Lead survey readiness activities; serve as primary point of contact during regulatory inspections
- Develop, review, and update nursing policies, procedures, and care protocols
- Oversee resident assessments, care planning, and interdisciplinary team coordination
- Monitor quality indicators (QMs/QIs) and implement performance improvement initiatives
- Manage nursing department budget, staffing schedules, and resource allocation
- Mentor, coach, and provide clinical guidance to ADON, charge nurses, and floor staff
- Collaborate with the Administrator, Medical Director, and department heads on clinical and operational matters
- Conduct and support incident investigations, grievance resolution, and root cause analysis
- Maintain compliance with infection control protocols and documentation standards
Education
- Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) minimum; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred
Licensure
- Active, unrestricted Registered Nurse (RN) licence — New Hampshire or compact state licence required
- Current CPR/BLS certification
Experience
- Minimum 3 years of nursing leadership experience in a skilled nursing or long-term care setting
- Prior DON, ADON, or equivalent director-level SNF experience strongly preferred
- Demonstrated familiarity with MDS/RAI process, care planning, and Five-Star Quality Rating System
- Experience managing CMS survey process and state inspections
- Proficiency with electronic health records (EHR) in SNF environment
Other
- Strong communication, team leadership, and problem-solving skills
- Ability to engage quickly in a new environment and build rapport with staff and residents