Nurse Manager – Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU)

Department: NICU

Position Type: Nurse Leadership / Management

Unit Size: 30 Beds

Staff Oversight: ~20–35 FTEs (Days, Evenings, Nights)

JOB SUMMARY

The Nurse Manager – NICU provides operational, clinical, and leadership oversight for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ensuring the delivery of safe, high‑quality, patient‑centered care. This role supports the Director in coordinating departmental activities and advancing the organization's mission, vision, values, and long‑range goals. The Nurse Manager leads daily operations, supports nursing staff, promotes professional development, and participates in quality, safety, and performance improvement initiatives. This leader is responsible for planning, implementing, and evaluating nursing care while ensuring compliance with all clinical, regulatory, and organizational standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Assist the Director with departmental operations and strategic initiatives aligned with organizational mission, vision, and values.
• Provide day‑to‑day clinical and operational leadership for the NICU.
• Offer clinical guidance and support to nursing staff to ensure safe, effective, and evidence‑based patient care.
• Plan, implement, and evaluate nursing care using the nursing process; continuously assess care effectiveness.
• Support staffing, scheduling, assignments, and daily operational needs of the unit.
• Foster effective communication and collaboration among nurses, physicians, ancillary departments, patients, and families.
• Assist with Performance Improvement and Quality Improvement activities to support continuous improvement.
• Monitor clinical outcomes, patient safety indicators, and quality metrics; assist with developing and implementing improvement initiatives.
• Ensure adherence to hospital policies, procedures, clinical standards, and regulatory requirements.
• Support orientation, training, competency validation, and ongoing professional development of nursing staff.
• Serve as a clinical resource, mentor, and role model for NICU nurses and the interdisciplinary team.
• Identify opportunities to improve patient care, staff engagement, workflow, and operational efficiency.
• Assist the Director with maintaining appropriate staffing levels and optimizing resource utilization.
• Address patient care concerns and staff issues promptly; escalate significant concerns as appropriate.
• Promote a culture of accountability, teamwork, professional practice, and patient safety.
• Participate in leadership meetings, committees, and departmental initiatives.
• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Director.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 2+ years NICU experience required.
• Recent acute care NICU leadership experience within the last year required.
• Level III or Level IV NICU experience required.
• 2+ years management or Charge Nurse experience required.
• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Current RN license in Texas or valid Multi‑State Compact RN License.
• Employees practicing under a Compact License must obtain a Texas RN License within 60 days of hire.
• Current AHA Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience leading a high‑volume, complex NICU environment.
• Experience with Performance Improvement and Quality Improvement initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of neonatal nursing standards, patient safety practices, and regulatory requirements.
• Demonstrated leadership, communication, organizational, and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with staff development, competency management, and performance management.

Pay Transparency

Compensation varies based on location, experience, and performance. Some sites require disclosure of pay and benefits. This role may also be eligible for bonuses or incentives depending on business needs. Employees may receive health insurance, optional dental and vision coverage, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plans, paid holidays, and PTO or sick time. The estimated hourly rate for this position is $125-135K.