Department ProfileThe Postpartum Unit within the Duke Birthing Center at Duke University Hospital is committed to delivering exceptional care and an outstanding patient experience for every mother, newborn, and family. This specialized unit primarily serves high-risk maternal and neonatal populations and provides care in a recently renovated 24-bed postpartum environment designed to support family-centered care and rooming-in accommodations.
The team cares for more than 3,500 families annually and partners closely with multidisciplinary providers to ensure safe, evidence-based, and compassionate care throughout the postpartum journey. Duke University Hospital was recently recognized as the #1 Maternity Care Center in North Carolina, reflecting the team's commitment to clinical excellence and patient outcomes.
The ideal candidate will thrive in a collaborative, shared governance environment and demonstrate a passion for maternal-newborn nursing, staff development, quality improvement, and patient-centered care. This role offers numerous opportunities for leadership growth through committee participation, quality initiatives, education, and professional development activities.
What You'll DoAs a Clinical Nurse IV Leader, you will serve as a clinical expert, educator, mentor, and leader within the Postpartum Unit.
Responsibilities include:
- Providing advanced clinical support and expertise in postpartum and newborn care.
- Leading unit-based education and professional development initiatives.
- Serving as a mentor and resource for nursing staff.
- Supporting onboarding, competency validation, and staff development.
- Championing quality improvement, patient safety, and evidence-based practice initiatives.
- Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams to improve patient outcomes and the patient experience.
- Partnering with unit leadership to promote regulatory compliance and operational excellence.
- Supporting implementation of new technology and serving as a super-user for clinical information systems.
- Participating in shared governance, committees, and departmental initiatives.
- Monitoring unit quality metrics and assisting with performance improvement efforts.
- Contributing to strategic planning and innovation initiatives that advance nursing practice.
Education- Assess staff educational needs and deliver unit-based education sessions.
- Partner with the Clinical Nurse Educator and Clinical Nurse Specialist to address unit educational needs and support professional development.
- Promote evidence-based practice, competency development, onboarding, and staff education initiatives.
Quality, Innovation & Research- Facilitate Quality Improvement (QI) and Performance Improvement (PI) methodologies within the department.
- Support the Duke Quality System approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
- Collaborate with unit champions to monitor processes, quality metrics, and outcome measures.
- Participate in research, evidence-based practice, and innovation initiatives that improve patient outcomes and operational excellence.
What to Expect- A blend of direct patient care and leadership responsibilities.
- Opportunities to lead educational, quality, and performance improvement initiatives.
- Collaboration with nurse leaders, educators, advanced practice providers, physicians, and multidisciplinary teams.
- Active participation in a shared governance environment.
- Professional growth through leadership development, committee involvement, and evidence-based practice.
- The opportunity to positively impact maternal and newborn outcomes for one of the region's highest-acuity patient populations.
What You'll NeedEducation- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
Experience- Minimum of two years of RN experience required.
- Current Clinical Nurse II and Clinical Nurse III team members are encouraged to apply.
Licensure & Certifications- Current RN license in North Carolina or compact state.
- Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
Preferred Qualifications- Experience in Postpartum, Mother/Baby, Women's Services, Labor & Delivery, NICU, or related maternal-newborn specialties.
- Previous experience leading educational, quality, or process improvement initiatives.
- Passion for staff development, patient experience, and family-centered care.
- Strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills.
