Job Description Summary
The Nurse Manager is accountable for the day-to-day operational performance of a single acute care unit. This role ensures consistent delivery of high-quality, safe nursing care through effective staffing practices, staff engagement, unit workflow standardization, and daily monitoring of patient experience and clinical quality indicators. The Clinical Manager leads through nurse leaders and works collaboratively with interdisciplinary partners to sustain compliance, readiness, and continuous improvement.
Day-to-day unit operations
• Ensure the unit operates reliably across shifts through clear workflow expectations, rounding, and problem resolution.
• Maintain unit standards for safe care delivery, communication, and escalation.
• Coordinate unit readiness for patient flow needs and unit-based priorities in collaboration with department leadership.
Staffing and scheduling effectiveness
• Oversee daily staffing management to support safe staffing and continuity of care.
• Monitor scheduling coverage, make staffing adjustments as needed, and ensure appropriate skill-mix coverage.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and credentialing processes in partnership with HR and Nursing Leadership.
Employee engagement and unit culture
• Build a culture of accountability, respect, and teamwork within the unit.
• Support performance improvement plans and coaching for unit staff in collaboration with leadership as appropriate.
• Reinforce professional standards, policies, and "right-now" behaviors through consistent communication and presence.
• Encourage engagement through recognition, empowerment practices, and transparent feedback.
Patient experience
• Monitor patient experience trends and ensure unit-level actions align with established patient experience goals.
• Reinforce communication standards (patients/families, interdisciplinary communication, discharge expectations).
• Support service recovery processes to address concerns promptly and effectively.
Clinical quality indicators and safety
• Monitor daily/weekly clinical quality indicators relevant to the unit (e.g., safety events, falls, infection prevention indicators, documentation timeliness, and other unit priorities).
• Lead day-to-day huddles and unit-based review of trends to support early intervention.
• Ensure adherence to clinical protocols, escalation pathways, and corrective actions for identified gaps.
Compliance, documentation, and readiness
• Ensure unit compliance with nursing policies, clinical standards, regulatory requirements, and internal audit expectations.
• Support survey readiness activities by maintaining documentation integrity and supporting unit-based readiness efforts.
• Ensure competencies are current and verify training completion as required for unit staff.
Communication and collaboration
• Provide timely updates to the Director on unit performance, risks, staffing needs, and improvement progress.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary partners (e.g., case management, pharmacy, hospital operations, quality/safety teams) to remove barriers to safe, timely care.
• Maintain consistent communication during shift changes and leadership rounds.
Additional Job Description
Education: BSN completed within 5 years of starting the role required; master's degree in nursing or healthcare administration (or related field) preferred
Experience: Prior Clinical Manager experience or equivalent unit leadership experience in an acute care hospital that demonstrates ability to manage unit operations and support clinical performance.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Demonstrated understanding of acute care nursing operations, safety practices, and quality improvement. Strong leadership and coaching skills with ability to hold staff accountable while maintaining engagement. Ability to manage staffing, workflow, and daily operational priorities with integrity and consistency. Ability to analyze unit performance data (clinical quality indicators and patient experience) and drive action. Strong communication skills and ability to collaborate effectively across disciplines. Sound judgment and escalation decision-making to protect patient safety.
Licenses/Certificates: Licensed to practice as a professional nurse in the state of South Carolina or Compact Licensure Agreement. Board certification in the relevant specialty area required within 1 years of starting the role (as applicable to the role/unit specialty). AHA BLS Certification
If you like working with energetic enthusiastic individuals, you will enjoy your career with us!
