Clinical Nurse Leader-Cardiology Stepdown at Duke Health

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About Duke University Hospital

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina, which is consistently ranked among the best in the United States. The largest of Duke Health's four hospitals with 1062 patient beds, it features comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic facilities, including a regional emergency/trauma center, an endo-surgery center, and more.

Clinical Nurse Leader (CN IV) – Cardiology Stepdown Unit (7300)

About the Unit

The 7300 Cardiology Stepdown Unit is a fast‑paced, 31‑bed cardiac progressive care unit supported by a highly skilled and collaborative team of registered nurses, nursing care assistants, and health unit coordinators. Our team is deeply committed to teamwork, clinical excellence, and delivering exceptional, patient‑centered cardiovascular care.

This role is ideal for an experienced bedside RN who is ready to grow into clinical leadership while maintaining a strong hands‑on patient care presence.

Role Overview

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CN IV) is a hybrid clinical and leadership role that combines direct patient care with unit‑based leadership, coaching, and operational support. This position serves as an early leadership pathway for nurses interested in advancing into formal nurse management roles while remaining clinically grounded.

The CN IV Leader supports unit leadership by coordinating care delivery, mentoring staff, advancing quality initiatives, and promoting evidence‑based practice—without direct budgetary ownership.

Schedule & Expectations

• FTE: 1.0 (40 hours/week)
• Typical Schedule:
• Approximately 2 clinical staffing shifts and 16 hours of dedicated leadership/office time per week
• Weekend, holiday, and occasional off‑shift or night‑shift coverage expected
• Leadership experience preferred; candidates must be open to working night shifts as needed

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Leadership & Care Coordination

• Identify and address the care needs of cardiology patient populations across the continuum of care
• Collaborate with the interdisciplinary team to support safe, high‑quality patient care delivery
• Serve as a visible clinical leader and resource on the unit

Staff Development & Mentorship

• Guide the professional growth of nursing staff through role modeling, coaching, and mentoring
• Support orientation programs and serve as a primary preceptor for senior nursing students as appropriate
• Collaborate with nurse educators and clinical nurse specialists on unit‑based education needs

Quality, Safety & Regulatory Support

• Monitor clinical practice and support compliance with professional, regulatory, and accreditation standards
• Participate in quality improvement initiatives and multidisciplinary committees focused on patient safety and outcomes
• Analyze patient care trends and support nursing staff in evidence‑based best practices

Operations & Resource Stewardship

• Provide guidance on the selection, use, and evaluation of equipment and supplies
• Collaborate with appropriate departments on vendor feedback and performance evaluation
• Support operational efficiency initiatives on the unit

Leadership Engagement

• Participate in departmental, institutional, or broader initiatives that enhance patient care quality and staff development
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide input on hiring, performance improvement, and personnel actions in collaboration with unit leadership

CN IV Leadership Pathways

Clinical Nurse IV Leaders may focus on one or more of the following areas, based on unit needs and individual strengths:

• Leadership & Regulatory Practice:
  Coaching staff, supporting compliance, and influencing recruitment and professional development
• Education:
  Planning and delivering education, assessing learning needs, and supporting evidence‑based practice adoption
• Informatics:
  Serving as a clinical systems super‑user, supporting technology adoption, and troubleshooting workflow issues
• Quality, Research & Innovation:
  Engaging in data‑driven improvement efforts, quality assurance activities, and research or innovation initiatives

Required Qualifications

Education

• BSN from an accredited nursing program is required

Experience

• Minimum of 3 years of RN experience
• Cardiology ICU or Stepdown experience preferred
• For Internal Candidates: Clinical Nurse II or III nurses are eligible to apply

Licensure & Certification

• Current (or compact) RN license in North Carolina
• BLS required

Distinguishing Characteristics

The Clinical Nurse Leader (CN IV) plays a key role in advancing unit‑level excellence by leading change, mentoring others, and continuously identifying opportunities to improve quality, safety, and efficiency in patient care delivery.

This role is a recognized leadership pipeline position within Duke Health and may serve as preparation for future Nurse Manager roles.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing employment opportunity without regard to an individual's age, color, disability, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, or veteran status.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob functions that require specific physical and/or mental abilities. Additional information and provision for requests for reasonable accommodation will be provided by each hiring department.