Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) - Behavioral Health

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) - Behavioral Health

Omaha, Nebraska

$130,000 to $150,000 + Bonus + Signing Bonus + Paid Relocation + Executive Benefits Package

Behavioral Health Hospital will address a significant regional need by offering a full continuum of specialized inpatient and outpatient services. The CNO will be responsible for building the nursing model for a comprehensive range of programs, including:

• Dedicated Youth Unit: The facility will feature a specialized 24-bed inpatient unit dedicated exclusively to children and adolescents, a vital new resource for the region.

• Comprehensive Care for All Ages: Services will target adults, seniors, children, and adolescents, covering acute symptoms of mental health and substance use disorders, including:

  • Mood Disorders

  • Dual Diagnosis (Co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders)

  • Geriatric Psychiatry

  • Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) / Intensive Outpatient Programs (IOP)

  • Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)

The CNO will be an essential member of the executive team, responsible for defining the standard of nursing excellence from the ground up across all these specialized service lines.

Key Responsibilities & Scope

The CNO will hold full accountability for the quality of patient care, operational and financial efficiency, and overall direction of the Nursing Department, including:

• Strategic Vision: Set the vision for nursing practice, ensuring the delivery of safe, timely, efficient, equitable, and patient-centered care in line with regulatory and quality standards, specifically tailored for the inpatient and outpatient adult, geriatric, and youth units.

• Clinical & Operational Leadership: Direct, supervise, and evaluate all nursing personnel. Provide clinical leadership to anticipate changes in census/acuity and strategically allocate nursing resources across all specialized programs.

• Interdisciplinary Collaboration: Collaborate with interdisciplinary treatment teams, other departments, and administration to ensure holistic care that addresses residents' physical, biopsychosocial, age, developmental, and cultural needs.

• Policy & Compliance: Organize, develop, and review policies, procedures, and nursing protocols within the facility to meet all regulatory, compliance, and quality care standards.

• Staff Development & Management: Lead the recruitment, hiring, training, and development of the nursing staff. Set performance objectives, provide feedback, and foster a culture of customer service and patient safety.

• Financial Oversight: Develop and oversee the departmental budget and reporting.

• Direct Care: Provide direct patient care as needed, serving as a clinical role model.

Required Qualifications & Experience

Category	Minimum Requirements
Education	Bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN) or commensurate experience.
Experience	6 years of RN experience required.
Leadership	3 years of progressive nursing management or administrative nursing experience required.
Specialty	2 years of behavioral health experience as an RN in an inpatient psychiatric setting required.

Preferred Qualifications
Master’s degree in nursing or mental health nursing strongly preferred.
10+ years of RN experience.
Prior CNO/DON experience strongly preferred.
Nursing leadership experience in a freestanding psychiatric hospital strongly preferred. Start-up experience highly valued.