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Acuity Eye Group

Physician-owned ophthalmology network with comprehensive care

Director of Nursing

Full-Time
$130k - $160k/yr
Mid, Senior
Bachelor's, Master's
Escondido, CA, USA
In Person
Medical, Clinical & Veterinary

About the job

Requirements
  • Minimum 3–5 years of related ambulatory and/or circulating nursing experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
  • Prior staff management experience.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint.
  • Current California Registered Nurse license.
  • Current Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support and Basic Life Support certifications, plus CPR certification.
  • Knowledge of surgery center best practices and operations.
  • Understanding of budgeting and financial reporting.
  • Ability to create and deliver training plans for consistency across regions.
  • Ability to analyze, think critically and strategically, and work with minimal oversight.
  • Ability to manage multiple work streams and priorities.
  • Ability to develop effective working relationships and communicate effectively with different management, communication, and delivery styles.
  • Ability to respond to common inquiries from customers, staff, vendors, or community members.
  • Ability to draw valid conclusions, exercise sound judgment, and make decisions under pressure.
  • Ability to interpret and apply policies and procedures.
  • Ability to maintain confidentiality of business documents and correspondence.
  • Ability to make timely and accurate decisions based on sometimes vague or limited information.
  • Ability to multitask effectively in a fast-paced and sometimes ambiguous environment without compromising work quality.
  • Ability to prioritize tasks and projects with limited direction while contributing to office success.
  • Ability to drive an automobile for frequent field visits.
  • Ability to sit, stand, walk, keyboard, finger, handle or feel, reach, see, talk, and hear; frequently push, pull, lift, and/or assist patients; frequently lift or carry items typically weighing less than 20 pounds; and occasionally stoop, kneel, bend, or crouch.
  • Finger dexterity to access, enter, and retrieve data using a computer keyboard, calculator, and other standard office equipment.
Responsibilities
  • Ensure assigned surgery centers operate efficiently and consistently and are appropriately staffed, including scheduling, downtime, and overtime.
  • Ensure clinical best practices and policies are followed while proactively resolving problems.
  • Train and onboard nurses and surgery center staff.
  • Participate in recruitment and selection of new staff.
  • Develop team members through leadership, coaching, and mentoring.
  • Collaborate with physicians and company management to operate profitable surgery centers while providing quality patient care.
  • Develop, maintain, and implement nursing policies and procedures consistent with nursing practice standards, facility philosophy, operational policies, and applicable state and federal laws and regulations.
  • Communicate and interpret policies and procedures to nursing staff and monitor staff practices and implementation.
  • Participate in patient care decisions and conduct staff annual performance evaluations and ongoing competency testing as assigned.
  • Participate in daily or weekly management team meetings concerning patient status, census changes, personnel, and resident complaints or concerns.
  • Participate in staff recruitment and selection and ensure sufficient staff are hired and fully utilized.
  • Participate in coaching, counseling, and disciplinary actions involving nursing and other surgical staff.
  • Ensure compassionate, quality care and nursing supervision through adequate services and staff coverage.
  • Supervise patient assessments and care plans.
  • Develop, maintain, and review weekly reports to support timely and effective communication about changes in condition and care plans.
  • Collaborate with physicians, facilities, community agencies, and institutions to improve service quality and resolve identified problems.
  • Oversee nursing schedules with management to meet patient needs and regulatory and budgetary standards.
  • Work as a staff nurse when needed and model high-quality nursing care.
  • Maintain required licensure and certifications and ensure nursing staff and surgical personnel maintain required licenses and certifications.
  • Maintain industry knowledge and identify ways to improve patient care in preoperative, post-anesthesia care, and intraoperative areas.
  • Develop and deliver in-service education to equip nursing staff with the knowledge and skills to provide quality care and respect patient rights.
  • Conduct rounds when not scheduled as a staff nurse to observe care and interview staff, patients, families or caregivers, and other interested parties.
  • Develop procedures that promote workplace safety and safe work practices.
  • Coordinate or develop ongoing quality improvement and quality assurance activities for nursing services; monitor compliance through rounds, interviews, and record reviews; and compile findings for the Compliance Department.
  • Coordinate care and services with patients, families, medical staff, nursing staff, interdisciplinary team members, and regional management, promoting care-plan participation and quality of care and life.
  • Promote customer service and hospitality and resolve patient or family concerns about nursing services.
  • Monitor service incidents and complaints, identify occurrences reportable under state policy, and promptly report them to the doctors, managing partner, or administrator.
  • Collaborate with facilities, medical professionals, consultants, organizations, and government agencies to coordinate patient care and administrative functions and represent the organization’s interests.
  • Lead and support care programs and research and assist with marketing, business development, outreach, education, quality improvement, and other initiatives as needed.
  • Plan and accomplish goals using extensive experience and judgment.
  • Share ideas constructively by listening to and objectively considering others’ ideas and suggestions.
  • Help maintain a clean, neat, and welcoming environment for patients.
  • Hold regular staff meetings and maintain minutes addressing incident reports, infection control, adverse incidents, and other issues.
  • Help keep the ambulatory surgery center survey-ready and complete assigned preparation tasks on time.
  • Maintain infection control certification and oversee the center’s infection control program, including monitoring and reporting as designated by management.
  • Develop, document, and maintain standard operating procedures, checklists, and process flows.
  • Maintain professional appearance and demeanor in accordance with company policies.
  • Meet commitments and keep the direct supervisor informed of work progress, timelines, and issues.
  • Maintain compliance with state, federal, and other regulations and requirements, including OSHA, workers’ compensation, HIPAA, ADA, FEHA, Department of Labor requirements, and human resources policies and practices.
  • Provide overall human resources management.
  • Develop the annual budget and oversee daily operations and daily, weekly, and monthly reporting in coordination with the financial support team.
  • Use computer skills for word processing, data collection, report writing, and financial reporting.
  • Oversee business office functions, including scheduling, pre-authorization, billing, accounts payable, and accounts receivable.
  • Oversee materials management.
  • Ensure an annual performance improvement plan is developed and activities are implemented to meet goals and standards.
  • Develop customer service standards and implement activities to support high customer satisfaction, measured on an ongoing basis.
  • Ensure timely and accurate medical credentialing of doctors and certified registered nurse anesthetists.
  • Ensure complete, accurate, and current employee files, including required licensing records.
  • Support direct patient care in all areas as permitted by scope of practice.
  • Provide support to the Director of Nursing in overseeing the ambulatory surgery center.
  • Support the Governing Board through agenda development, meeting-minute documentation, distribution of information and reports, and related functions.
  • Ensure patient charts are complete, contain necessary signatures and reports, and are ready to be filed.
  • Ensure medical equipment is properly maintained and preventive maintenance is completed as scheduled.
  • Ensure linen and biohazard materials are collected according to contract.
  • Oversee and review ambulatory surgery center purchases.
  • Ensure tracking and reporting logs are kept up to date.
  • Ensure monthly, quarterly, and annual drills and in-service sessions are completed and documented.
  • Re-credential with insurance companies as requested.
  • Negotiate and execute center contracts.
  • Establish cash-rate fees according to Medicare allowable amounts.
  • Renew required ambulatory surgery center certifications as due and requested.
  • Facilitate communication and support relationships between employees and medical staff.
  • Support and motivate employees and work to improve employee morale.
  • Develop and monitor guidelines and standards for compliance with state requirements, Medicare approval, and federal regulations, including OSHA and CLIA.
  • Attend and actively participate in business meetings and conference calls.
  • Perform other duties as assigned by management.
Desired Qualifications
  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree.
  • Experience in the ophthalmic industry with multiple surgery center locations.
  • Experience with regulatory and accreditation surveys, including AAAHC accreditation.

About the company

Acuity Eye Group operates a physician-owned, vertically integrated network of ophthalmic clinics that grows by acquiring existing ophthalmology practices and providing centralized administrative and operational support. This lets doctors focus on patient care while the network handles business functions. The model combines optometry, ophthalmology, and retinal surgery into a single system that delivers care from routine exams to complex surgeries across many Southern California locations. Unlike PE-backed firms, Acuity Eye Group emphasizes a long-term, practice-first approach without external investors. Its goal is to expand into the largest network of its kind in the United States by improving patients’ quality of life through high-quality eye care and a positive patient experience.

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Pasadena, California

Founded

2009

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Acuity opened two Dry Eye Centers in Costa Mesa and Lancaster on 2026-05-22.
  • Acuity launched a new brand and website on 2026-03-18, signaling ongoing expansion.
  • Official acquisitions pages updated 2026-08-25 show continued practice roll-up momentum.

What critics are saying

  • A 2019 Medicare-Medi-Cal fraud settlement still stains the brand and invites scrutiny.
  • Jessica Carlson's wrongful-termination case, filed 2023, exposes executive-level workplace instability.
  • Heavy Southern California concentration leaves Acuity vulnerable to payer pressure or acquisition slowdown.

What makes Acuity Eye Group unique

  • Tom Chang built Acuity from a 2005 Pasadena retina practice into 60+ locations.
  • Acuity is physician-owned, self-funded, and explicitly excludes private equity backing.
  • Its vertically integrated model bundles optometry, retina, surgery centers, and optical retail.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Paid Sick Leave

Paid Holidays

Growth & Insights

Headcount

6 month growth

28%

1 year growth

28%

2 year growth

28%