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.