We're with you for life’s journey. At Denver Health, purpose isn’t just something we believe in—it’s something we live every day, for life’s journey.

Our Values

Respect | Belonging | Accountability | Transparency

Department

Job Summary

The Associate Chief Nursing Officer (ACNO), reporting to the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Ambulatory Officer (CAO), is responsible for overseeing nursing care delivery, professional development, and evidence-based practices to ensure high-quality patient care for Ambulatory Care Clinical Nursing areas. Collaborating with nursing, medical leadership and senior leadership, this role drives performance improvement by leveraging data, emerging trends, and organizational goals to enhance patient care services and nursing excellence.

Essential Functions:

• Collaborates with the ACS Directors, Central Management Team, nurse managers and physician team leaders. Formulates policies and procedures consistent with EVP, recognized standards of professional practice and regulations. Provides direct oversight of all areas where patient care is delivered, maintaining authority, accountability, and responsibility for nursing services. (20%)
• Serves as the nursing executive leader in large-scale operational projects including but not limited to nursing informatics, recruitment and retention efforts, and patient safety action planning. (10%)
• Assists in budget preparation and in managing costs by continually seeking data that will identify opportunities and take action to eliminate non-value costs. (10%)
• Conducts ongoing assessment of the strengths and opportunities for nursing services to better understand and identify future needs and challenges; evaluates existing systems, programs, and priorities and future potential to make recommendations for growth and expansion. (10%)
• Ensures full compliance with internal/external legal and regulatory standards and requirements, and the effective control procedures are in place and fully functioning to preclude improprieties from occurring, monitors the effectiveness of current practices in meeting expectations and producing desired results. (10%)
• Fosters a culture conducive to evidence-based practice and clinical research with active driving and involvement in creating a professional practice environment that encourages recruitment, retention, ownership of goals, and actively participation in decisions that affect nursing services. (10%)
• Develops, implements, monitors and evaluates systems, initiatives and programs to facilitate performance and quality improvements consistent with the organization priorities, regulatory requirements. (10%)
• Develops and maintains close working relationships with physician colleagues and other healthcare providers in areas of clinical oversight. Collaborates with these individuals to set goals for the areas or develops action plans for patient care or system improvements. (10%)
• Collaborates with other patient care and support departments, fostering a climate of open communication and mutual problem-solving activities. Initiates and participates in joint performance improvement activities. (10%)

Education:

• Master's Degree Nursing or related field Required
• Doctorate Degree Preferred

Work Experience:

• At least 10 years of progressive nursing experience, with a minimum of five years in administrative roles Required

Licenses/Certifications:

• RN-Registered Nurse - DORA - Department of Regulatory Agencies Required
• NEABC-Nurse Executive Certification - Advanced - ANCC - American Nurses Credentialing Center Preferred
• CENP - Certified in Executive Nursing Practice - AONL - American Organization for Nursing Leadership Preferred

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Communication skills to interact effectively with Denver Health’s current service/client base, prospective customers, and all levels of Denver Health management.
• Ability to perform financial analyses including forecasting, assisting in exploring strategic options and developing creative solutions to complex business issues.
• Ability to interpret and analyze financial and statistical information.
• Ability to systematically gather information from a variety of sources, analyze information, identify implications of data, draw appropriate conclusions, generate viable alternative solutions to a question or problem and evaluate the consequences of choosing each alternative.
• Knowledge of accreditation standards and compliance requirements.

Shift

Work Type

Salary

Benefits

At Denver Health, we take care of the people who take care of our community. Our benefits are built to support your life, your family, and your future — with generous paid time off, fully paid parental leave, exceptional retirement contributions, comprehensive health coverage, and nationally recognized well-being programs. We invest in your growth through tuition assistance, career advancement pathways, and professional development — while also offering meaningful financial advantages through loan forgiveness eligibility and employer contributions. When you join Denver Health, you’re joining a mission-driven organization that invests in you.

Here is a small list of our benefit programs:

• Paid time off starting at 28 days per year, inclusive of vacation, personal/sick, and 7 Holidays
• 100% paid parental leave up to 6 weeks
• Immediate eligibility for retirement plans with employer contribution up to 9.5%
• Generous medical, dental, vision plans in addition to employer paid disability and life insurance.
• Comprehensive well-being programs including on-site employee fitness center located on Denver Health main campus and nationally recognized RESTORE Center
• Free RTD EcoPass (public transportation)
• Childcare discount programs & exclusive perks on large brands, travel, and more
• Tuition reimbursement & assistance
• Education, coaching, and professional development opportunities through the Workforce Development Center (WFDC) that support internal career growth and advancement pathways
• Professional clinical advancement program & shared governance
• Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) eligible employer+ free student loan coaching and assistance navigating the PSLF program
• National Health Service Corps (NHCS) and Colorado Health Service Corps (CHSC) eligible employer

About Denver Health

Denver Health is an integrated, high-quality academic healthcare system considered a model for the nation that includes a Level I Trauma Center, a 555-bed acute care medical center, Denver’s 911 emergency medical response system, 10 family health centers, 19 school-based health centers, Rocky Mountain Poison & Drug Safety, the Public Health Institute at Denver Health, Denver Health Medical Plan and Denver Health Foundation.

As Colorado’s primary, and essential, safety-net healthcare system, Denver Health is a mission-driven organization that has provided millions in uncompensated care for the uninsured each year.

Located near downtown Denver, Denver Health is just minutes away from many of the cultural and recreational activities Denver has to offer.

Denver Health is an equal opportunity employer (EOE). We value the unique ideas, talents and contributions reflective of the needs of our community. All job applicants for safety-sensitive positions must pass a pre-employment drug test, once a conditional offer of employment has been made. Applicants will be considered until the position is filled.