Nurse Manager I - Observation Unit

TriHealth · Cincinnati

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EVP Intro (About TriHealth & This Role)

At TriHealth, our mission is grounded in delivering exceptional patient-centered care, supporting our teams, and fostering a culture where nurses grow and thrive. As a Nurse Manager (NM) in the Observation Unit, you will help lead a fast-paced, patient-focused environment dedicated to delivering efficient, high-quality care for patients requiring short-term monitoring, treatment, and care coordination. You will partner closely with the Nurse Manager to drive quality outcomes, enhance patient throughput and satisfaction, and cultivate a supportive workplace where team members can develop professionally and provide excellent care.

Why You'll Love This Role

• Be a key leader supporting a dynamic Observation Unit that serves as a critical bridge between the Emergency Department and inpatient care.
• Influence patient flow and operational efficiency while ensuring safe, high-quality patient care.
• Mentor and develop nursing staff through coaching, education, and professional growth opportunities.
• Collaborate closely with physicians, case management, therapy services, and interprofessional care teams to optimize patient outcomes.
• Help shape a positive, patient-centered culture focused on teamwork, engagement, and staff retention.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the delivery of safe, evidence-based, high-quality care for patients requiring observation services and short-term treatment.
• Partner with the Director to support daily operations, staffing, throughput initiatives, and patient experience goals.
• Serve as a clinical and administrative resource for Observation Unit team members, providing leadership and support during designated shifts.
• Collaborate with physicians, case management, and interdisciplinary teams to facilitate efficient care transitions and discharge planning.
• Monitor and improve quality metrics, patient safety indicators, and operational performance measures.
• Assist with hiring, onboarding, coaching, counseling, and performance management to support staff engagement and retention.
• Promote continuous professional development, competency validation, and ongoing education in collaboration with nursing educators.
• Support implementation of departmental and organizational policies, ensuring compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards.

Job Overview

The Nurse Manager (NM) has 24-hour accountability for the Observation Unit and is responsible for patient care outcomes, service excellence, human resources, fiscal management, quality improvement, regulatory compliance, and effective communication. The NM partners with the Director to ensure safe, efficient, patient-centered care while fostering a positive work environment that promotes professional growth, staff engagement, and retention. The NM serves as a role model, mentor, and coach to support team development and achieve organizational goals.

Job Requirements

Education

• Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (Required)

Experience

• 2-3 years of progressive leadership experience in a related healthcare field (Required)
• 2-3 years of clinical nursing experience (Required)

Licensure

• Current Registered Nurse (RN) license

Why You'll Love This Role

• Lead a high-performing Observation Unit focused on efficient patient care, throughput, and care transitions.
• Partner with interdisciplinary teams to enhance patient outcomes and operational excellence.
• Mentor and develop nursing professionals while fostering a culture of engagement and accountability.
• Influence quality, safety, service, and patient experience initiatives.
• Support innovation, process improvement, and evidence-based practice within a collaborative environment.

Key Responsibilities

Quality & Patient Safety

• Monitor key quality, safety, and patient experience indicators and implement performance improvement initiatives.
• Evaluate patient and stakeholder satisfaction data and develop action plans to address opportunities.
• Participate in the development and execution of Nursing Quality, Safety, and Service initiatives.
• Promote evidence-based practice and support the integration of research findings into clinical care.
• Identify opportunities for clinical and operational improvements within the Observation Unit.
• Model Service Excellence behaviors and empower staff to achieve exceptional patient experiences.

Staff Engagement & Retention

• Proactively assess staff concerns and identify potential retention risks.
• Support the successful transition and retention of newly hired nurses, including new graduate nurses.
• Maintain visibility across all shifts through rounding and staff engagement.
• Participate in exit interview review and retention planning efforts.
• Foster an environment of recognition, collaboration, and professional growth.

Recruitment & Onboarding

• Assess staffing needs and support workforce planning initiatives.
• Partner with Human Resources and Talent Acquisition to recruit qualified candidates.
• Interview and evaluate candidates using established selection processes.
• Ensure individualized orientation plans for new team members.
• Collaborate with educators and preceptors to support successful onboarding experiences.

Professional Development

• Identify educational and competency needs and coordinate development opportunities.
• Monitor staff compliance with policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
• Utilize performance evaluations and peer review processes to support growth and career progression.
• Encourage accountability, autonomy, and continuous learning among team members.
• Promote specialty certification and lifelong learning.

Communication & Collaboration

• Facilitate open, two-way communication and encourage staff feedback.
• Build strong relationships with physicians, case management, and interdisciplinary care teams.
• Communicate departmental and organizational goals, priorities, and initiatives.
• Collaborate with leadership to address unit concerns and operational opportunities.
• Support a culture of transparency, teamwork, and mutual respect.

Unit Leadership & Operations

• Partner with staff to establish and achieve strategic nursing and departmental goals.
• Develop frontline leaders and encourage participation in Shared Leadership activities.
• Promote the TriHealth Serve Model and ALWAYS Behaviors.
• Ensure compliance with the TriHealth Code of Ethical Business and Professional Behavior.
• Address ethical issues and advocate for safe, patient-centered care practices.
• Demonstrate fiscal stewardship through effective budget management and resource utilization.
• Provide ongoing coaching, feedback, and annual performance evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards, including TJC, OSHA, and EPA requirements.
• Support implementation of new technologies, workflows, and service initiatives.
• Regularly assess personal leadership effectiveness and pursue professional development opportunities.

Additional Information

• Direct Reports: 20-59 FTEs
• Indirect Reports: 30-39 FTEs

The TriHealth Nursing Vision, Mission, and Philosophy are grounded in professional development, collaboration, evidence-based practice, and exceptional patient care. TriHealth encourages:

• Continuing education and advanced degree attainment
• Specialty certification
• Participation in professional nursing organizations
• Community health engagement
• Research and evidence-based practice initiatives
• Strong collaborative relationships among nurses, physicians, and interdisciplinary caregivers

Working Conditions

Leadership Performance Standards

TriHealth leaders create a culture of engagement, safety, reliability, and high performance by consistently demonstrating the TriHealth Way leadership competencies, tactics, and ALWAYS Behaviors.

Annual Pillar Goals

1. Safety & Quality
2. Service
3. Growth
4. Culture & People
5. Finance

Leadership Competencies

• TriHealth Way of Leading
• TriHealth Way of Serving
• Transformation & Change
• Drive for Results
• Build Organizational Talent

Leadership Tactics

• Conduct regular department huddles (daily for clinical departments).
• Round consistently with team members using established rounding tools: 
  • 25 or fewer team members: Monthly
  • 26-50 team members: Every other month
  • 51+ team members: Quarterly
• Lead monthly staff meetings using the approved agenda format.
• Review stoplight reports and cascade key organizational messages.
• Maintain a visible leadership presence that supports communication, engagement, and accountability.

Model, coach and validate team members use of TriHealth Way behaviors (AIDET + Promise, Always Behaviors and Always HEARD).

Recognize team members for safety wins, positive performance and demonstrating SERVE and ALWAYS behaviors, TriHealth Way of Leading, Serving and Delivering Care.

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