Job Description

At Duke Health, we're driven by a commitment to compassionate care that changes the lives of patients, their loved ones, and the greater community. No matter where your talents lie, join us and discover how we can advance health together.

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 the four Duke Healthhospitals 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 (7100)

About the Unit

The Cardiology Stepdown (Unit 7300) is a fast-paced, 28-bed cardiac progressive care unit supported by a highly skilled and collaborative team of registered nurses, nursing 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.
• Many of our patients transfer in directly from the ICU, post-procedure, or from outside hospitals requiring an elevated level of care.
• Our team specializes in care of patients with acute coronary syndromes, post-cardiac catheterization recovery, electrophysiology procedures, dysrhythmia, heart failure, heart transplant evaluation, and congenital heart disease. These patients may have multi-system involvement, including pulmonary, renal, endocrine, and neurological conditions.

Department Highlights

• Opportunity to grow and advance in your career as a Clinical Nurse Leader (CN IV).
• Extraordinary unit culture that embraces each team member.

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.