CLINICAL NURSE IV LEADER - Cardiology Stepdown Unit

Duke Careers • Durham, NC

1d • Onsite

About The Position

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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

Requirements

• BSN from an accredited nursing program is required
• Minimum of 3 years of RN experience
• Cardiology ICU or Stepdown experience preferred
• Current (or compact) RN license in North Carolina
• BLS required

Nice To Haves

• For Internal Candidates: Clinical Nurse II or III nurses are eligible to apply
• Leadership experience preferred; candidates must be open to working night shifts as needed

Responsibilities

• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• 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
• Coaching staff, supporting compliance, and influencing recruitment and professional development
• Planning and delivering education, assessing learning needs, and supporting evidence-based practice adoption
• Serving as a clinical systems super-user, supporting technology adoption, and troubleshooting workflow issues
• Engaging in data-driven improvement efforts, quality assurance activities, and research or innovation initiatives

Benefits

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

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level