Director of Nursing (DNS)

Caring Hands Healthcare of New York

Syracuse, New York

Eligibility: Long-term careSkilled nursing facility

Posted Jul 26

Unit and setting: Skilled Nursing
License: RN licenseCurrent Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice, in good standing.
Term: Permanent

Do you qualify?

License: Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice, in good standing.
Experience: Minimum 3-5 years of nursing leadership experience, preferably in long-term care or a skilled nursing facility.

Preferred

Certification: CPR/BLS certification required; additional certifications (e.g., DON certification, Infection Control) a plus.
Education: Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN or higher preferred.

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What it pays

Against similar roles: Top of Syracuse staff RN paySyracuse staff RN postings that state pay run $73k/yr to $88k/yr, the middle half $75k/yr to $83k/yr, across 33 postings.

Benefits

Salary $125,000-$145,000

The role and schedule

Weekends: Weekends required
On call: On-call rotation

The team behind this role

Scheduling at this employer

Scheduling

DON is full-time on-site with some evening, weekend, or on-call responsibilities as needed.

Caring Hands Healthcare of New York · confirm this unit

Sources

As of 2026Source: credenzahealth.com

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Join our team as a leader in providing compassionate and quality care to our residents. We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Director of Nursing (DNS) to lead our nursing department in our skilled nursing facility.

About the Role

As a Director of Nursing, you will have the opportunity to lead a team of dedicated nursing professionals and make a positive impact on the lives of our residents. With a competitive salary range of $125,000-$145,000 annually you will be well-compensated for your leadership skills and experience.

Key Responsibilities

Oversee the daily operations of the nursing department, including staff scheduling, supervision, and clinical care coordination.
Develop and implement nursing policies and procedures to ensure quality resident care and regulatory compliance.
Monitor resident care for quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI); participate in audits, surveys, and inspections.
Manage staffing levels to meet resident needs while maintaining budgeted hours and controlling overtime.
Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate nursing staff, including RN, LPN/LVN, and CNA team members.
Provide leadership, mentorship, and performance feedback to nursing staff.
Collaborate with interdisciplinary team members, physicians, residents, and families to coordinate care plans and resolve concerns.

Qualifications

Education

Graduate of an accredited school of nursing; BSN or higher preferred.

Licensure

Current Registered Nurse (RN) license in the state of practice, in good standing.

Experience

Minimum 3-5 years of nursing leadership experience, preferably in long-term care or a skilled nursing facility.

Certifications

CPR/BLS certification required; additional certifications (e.g., DON certification, Infection Control) a plus.

Skills & Competencies

Strong knowledge of state and federal long-term care regulations (e.g., CMS guidelines).
Proven leadership and team-building skills.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problem-solving abilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced healthcare environment.
Proficient in electronic medical records (EMR) systems.

Working Conditions

Full-time, on-site role with some evening, weekend, or on-call responsibilities as needed.
May require lifting, bending, or standing for extended periods.

Benefits

$125,000-$145,000 salary

Travel Stipend

Mileage reimbursement

Relocation package

Sign on Bonus

401k
Medical employer contribution and 3 plan types offered
Vision
Dental

If you are a passionate and experienced nurse leader looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity. Join our team!

What's around it?

In Syracuse, NY

Syracuse, NYFrom Census ACS 2024.

Living costs about 4% below the US average

Median rent: $1,039/mo
Household income: $47,819/yr, all local households, not nurse pay

Life in Syracuse, NY

NeighborhoodsNurses and young professionals often choose University Hill for apartments next to the hospitals and Syracuse University, or Downtown for converted warehouse lofts around Armory Square. Locals name Meadowbrook, Westcott, Strathmore, and Sedgwick as the safest close-in neighborhoods, with Tipp Hill and Eastwood also considered solid; Westcott is eclectic and student-noisy with parks and a rose garden, while Eastwood has a village main street and sturdy WWII-era houses. Brighton offers lower-priced historic houses with deep front porches, Washington Square is Little Italy on a walkable grid, Bradford Hills has large-lot homes above Nottingham High School, and Strathmore sits beside Onondaga Park with Ward Wellington Ward houses. Family suburbs repeatedly recommended are Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius, Jamesville-DeWitt, Liverpool, and Cicero.

Nurses and young professionals often choose University Hill for apartments next to the hospitals and Syracuse University, or Downtown for converted warehouse lofts around Armory Square. Locals name Meadowbrook, Westcott, Strathmore, and Sedgwick as the safest close-in neighborhoods, with Tipp Hill and Eastwood also considered solid; Westcott is eclectic and student-noisy with parks and a rose garden, while Eastwood has a village main street and sturdy WWII-era houses.

Brighton offers lower-priced historic houses with deep front porches, Washington Square is Little Italy on a walkable grid, Bradford Hills has large-lot homes above Nottingham High School, and Strathmore sits beside Onondaga Park with Ward Wellington Ward houses. Family suburbs repeatedly recommended are Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius, Jamesville-DeWitt, Liverpool, and Cicero.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: facebook.com Source 2: reddit.com Source 3: trulia.com Source 4: quora.com Source 5: cnynicheteam.com

Getting aroundCentro buses converge downtown and run heavily to Syracuse University, so Downtown and University Hill can work without a car; everywhere else a car does most of the work. Interstates 81 and 690 cross just north of downtown and put the whole metro within about 15 minutes. Average commute times are cited at about 15.26 minutes in one city profile and 21 minutes in a local housing report. University Hill is the hospital cluster; the North and South Sides are flatter grids that are easier to walk and park than the climb home on the Hill.

Centro buses converge downtown and run heavily to Syracuse University, so Downtown and University Hill can work without a car; everywhere else a car does most of the work. Interstates 81 and 690 cross just north of downtown and put the whole metro within about 15 minutes.

Average commute times are cited at about 15.26 minutes in one city profile and 21 minutes in a local housing report. University Hill is the hospital cluster; the North and South Sides are flatter grids that are easier to walk and park than the climb home on the Hill.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: trulia.com Source 2: realestate.usnews.com Source 3: cnynicheteam.com

OutdoorsGreen Lakes State Park is the signature nearby park; locals also name Jamesville Beach Park, Otisco Lake Park, Stafford Forest, Webster Pond, and Onondaga Park beside Strathmore. The Onondaga Creekwalk leads toward Onondaga Lake, which offers watersports. The region has 35-plus state and county parks and more than 170 parks and natural areas, with the Finger Lakes a short drive, Adirondack Park about two hours northeast, and the Catskills less than two hours southeast. Year-round activities include skiing, hiking, ice skating, swimming, apple picking, rafting, biking, camping, and horseback riding.

Green Lakes State Park is the signature nearby park; locals also name Jamesville Beach Park, Otisco Lake Park, Stafford Forest, Webster Pond, and Onondaga Park beside Strathmore. The Onondaga Creekwalk leads toward Onondaga Lake, which offers watersports.

The region has 35-plus state and county parks and more than 170 parks and natural areas, with the Finger Lakes a short drive, Adirondack Park about two hours northeast, and the Catskills less than two hours southeast. Year-round activities include skiing, hiking, ice skating, swimming, apple picking, rafting, biking, camping, and horseback riding.

Sources

As of Sep 11, 2026Source 1: trulia.com Source 2: visitsyracuse.com Source 3: iloveny.com Source 4: reddit.com Source 5: syracuse.edu

Others hiring in Syracuse, NY

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Moving for this role?

Moving costs

Relocation assistance offered

This posting

Employer relocation terms

Relocation package for Director of Nursing

Caring Hands Healthcare of New York · eligibility varies by role

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: credenzahealth.com Source 2: credenzahealth.com

Check the commute at your shift’s start and end, upfront housing costs, and whether moving assistance must be repaid if you leave.

Living in Syracuse

Syracuse sits where the Erie Canal once cut through downtown, a compact hill-ringed city an easy drive from the Finger Lakes and Onondaga Lake. What is genuinely distinct is hospital-adjacent living on University Hill, 15-to-21-minute metro commutes on I-81 and I-690, and housing costs far below New York and national norms—loft rentals in Armory Square warehouses, apartments near the hospitals, and early-1900s houses and owner-occupied doubles in Eastwood, Brighton, and Washington Square. Nurses who want walkable nights land Downtown; those who want a village main street look at Eastwood; families repeatedly choose Baldwinsville, Fayetteville-Manlius, Jamesville-DeWitt, Liverpool, or Cicero for schools. Weekends run from Green Lakes State Park, Onondaga Park, and the Creekwalk to Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, Salt City Market, Little Italy in Washington Square, Syracuse Mets games, and festivals including the Great New York State Fair, Taste of Syracuse, and Winterfest. The tradeoffs are not subtle: about 114 inches of snow a year, a car almost everywhere except Downtown and the Hill, uneven neighborhood safety, and generally low city public-school rankings. A garage and a short commute matter here more than in a milder city.

AI area guide

Sources

As of 2026Source 1: trulia.com Source 2: syracuse.edu Source 3: extraspace.com Source 4: cnynicheteam.com Source 5: iloveny.com Source 6: reddit.com Source 7: facebook.com

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Do you qualify?

Preferred

What it pays

Benefits

The role and schedule

The team behind this role

Worth asking

Ask Mira

Your fit

Original listing

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

Qualifications

Education

Licensure

Experience

Certifications

Skills & Competencies

Working Conditions

Benefits

What's around it?

Syracuse, NYiFrom Census ACS 2024.

Life in Syracuse, NY

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Nurses on this role

The team behind this role

Life in Syracuse, NY

Moving for this role?

Nurses on this role

Syracuse, NYFrom Census ACS 2024.