Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO) Ambulatory Services

Job Summary

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), Ambulatory Services, serves as the senior nursing leader responsible for the strategic, clinical, operational, and financial leadership of ambulatory nursing services. The ACNO provides oversight for nursing practice, workforce development, quality and patient safety initiatives, regulatory compliance, and operational performance across outpatient clinics, ambulatory programs, and procedural areas.

In partnership with clinician, administrative, and interdisciplinary leaders, the ACNO develops and advances care delivery models that promote evidence-based practice, exceptional patient experiences, optimal clinical outcomes, workforce engagement, and operational excellence. The ACNO establishes the vision and strategic direction for ambulatory nursing practice while ensuring alignment with organizational goals, professional standards, accreditation requirements, and regulatory expectations.

As a key member of the Patient Care Services and Ambulatory Leadership Teams, the ACNO champions innovation, continuous improvement, equitable care delivery, and collaborative partnerships across the continuum of care.

Duties & Responsibilities

Nursing Practice Leadership

• Provides executive leadership for ambulatory nursing practice and professional standards across all outpatient settings.
• Establishes and implements strategic priorities that advance nursing excellence, quality outcomes, and patient-centered care.
• Ensures the integration of evidence-based practice, nursing research, innovation, and regulatory requirements into clinical operations.
• Serves as the senior nursing resource for ambulatory clinical practice, patient care delivery, and professional nursing issues.
• Promotes adherence to professional nursing standards, organizational policies, and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics.

Quality, Safety, and Regulatory Compliance

• Leads ambulatory quality, patient safety, infection prevention, risk reduction, and regulatory readiness initiatives.
• Oversees compliance with Joint Commission, CMS, Department of Health, OSHA, HIPAA, and professional practice standards.
• Establishes and monitors quality metrics, nursing-sensitive indicators, and performance improvement measures.
• Collaborates with medical and operational leaders to identify opportunities to improve outcomes, patient experience, and care delivery performance.
• Ensures readiness for accreditation surveys and regulatory reviews.

Operational Leadership

• Provides strategic oversight of ambulatory clinical operations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality care delivery.
• Partners with operational and clinical leaders to improve patient access, patient flow, care coordination, and service excellence.
• Develops and implements operational plans that support organizational growth, patient-centered care, and ambulatory transformation initiatives.
• Evaluates operational performance and implements improvement strategies to achieve established goals.

Workforce Planning and Talent Development

• Develops and oversees ambulatory nursing staffing models that support patient needs, productivity standards, and clinical excellence.
• Leads recruitment, retention, succession planning, and workforce development initiatives.
• Mentors, coaches, and develops nurse managers and clinical leaders to build leadership capacity throughout the organization.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, engagement, inclusion, collaboration, and professional growth.
• Ensures competency assessment, ongoing education, and professional development programs support organizational needs.

Strategic Planning and Organizational Leadership

• Participates in organizational strategic planning and ambulatory service line development.
• Collaborates with executive leadership to establish priorities that support quality, growth, financial sustainability, and workforce effectiveness.
• Represents ambulatory nursing services on organizational committees, governance councils, and interdisciplinary leadership groups.
• Facilitates collaboration among nursing, medical, and operational leaders to achieve system-wide objectives.

Financial and Resource Management

• Develops, manages, and monitors operating and capital budgets for ambulatory nursing services.
• Maintains accountability for financial performance while ensuring high-quality patient care and regulatory compliance.
• Identifies opportunities to improve operational efficiency, resource utilization, and revenue optimization.
• Prioritizes investments in staffing, technology, equipment, and infrastructure to support strategic initiatives and patient care needs.

Human Resource Management

• Recruits, hires, evaluates, and retains high-performing nursing leaders and staff.
• Conducts performance evaluations and implements performance improvement plans as needed.
• Addresses employee relations matters in accordance with organizational policies and applicable labor agreements.
• Supports leadership development and team effectiveness throughout ambulatory services.

Environment of Care

• Ensures a safe, therapeutic, patient- and family-centered environment across ambulatory settings.
• Collaborates with support services, facilities, infection prevention, and safety teams to maintain optimal clinical environments.
• Oversees environmental readiness activities and compliance with applicable safety standards.

Professional Accountability

• Maintains current knowledge of ambulatory care trends, healthcare regulations, nursing leadership best practices, and emerging care delivery models.
• Participates in professional organizations and leadership development activities.
• Demonstrates commitment to lifelong learning and professional advancement.
• Maintains patient, employee, and organizational confidentiality in accordance with legal and organizational requirements.

Requirements

Education

• Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) required.

Experience

• Minimum of seven (7) years of progressive nursing leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success leading quality improvement, operational excellence, workforce development, and strategic initiatives in a complex healthcare environment.

Licensure and Certifications

• Current, unrestricted Registered Nurse license.
• Nursing Executive Certification (NE-BC or NEA-BC) preferred.
• Current BLS certification required.
• Additional specialty certifications as applicable to clinical areas.

ADA Requirements

• Requires the ability to sit, stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout ambulatory care settings. Occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling of supplies and equipment up to 25 pounds may be required. Travel between ambulatory practice locations may be necessary.

About Us

Care New England Health System (CNE) and its member institutions, Butler Hospital, Women & Infants Hospital, Kent Hospital, VNA of Care New England, Integra, The Providence Center, and Care New England Medical Group, is a trusted, integrated health care organization that fuels the latest advances in medical research, attracts the nation’s top specialty-trained doctors, hones renowned services and innovative programs, and engages in the important discussions people need to have about their health and end-of-life wishes. Care New England is helping to transform the future of health care, providing a leading voice in the ongoing effort to ensure the health of the individuals and communities we serve.

EEO Statements

Americans with Disability Act Statement : External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled must be able to perform the essential job-specific functions either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation, to be determined by the organization on a case-by-case basis.

EEOC Statement : Care New England is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status

Ethics Statement : Employee conducts himself/herself consistent with the ethical standards of the organization including, but not limited to hospital policy, mission, vision, and values.