Clinical Nurse Leader - Labor and Delivery Unit

Duke University; Durham (NC); On-site; USD 85,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Commitment bonus for Experienced RNs

Relocation up to $8,000

Student loan forgiveness up to $25,000

Job summary

Duke Birthing Center at Duke University Hospital in Durham, NC seeks an experienced Registered Nurse to join as Clinical Nurse Leader in Labor and Delivery. The role leads a multidisciplinary team within a Level IV maternity unit, delivering high-quality patient-centered care.

The position emphasizes leadership, education, and collaboration with Maternal Fetal Medicine, obstetrics, and neonatology specialists to ensure safe, compassionate birth experiences for families served by Duke Health.

Qualifications

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program with a BSN.
• Minimum of two years of nursing experience.
• Current North Carolina RN licensure (or compact).
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• Applicants will perform duties of Clinical Nurse IV leadership.

Responsibilities

• Provide advanced and specialized nursing care per unit standards.
• Lead educational activities and staff development initiatives.
• Coach, mentor, and supervise nursing staff within a multidisciplinary team.
• Lead quality improvement initiatives and ensure regulatory compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Nursing practice

Patient care

Electronic health records

Infection prevention

Education

BSN

Tools

EHR systems

Job description

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Clinical Nurse Leader - Labor and Delivery Unit

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Requisition Number: 274089

Regular or Temporary: Regular

Location: Durham, NC, US, 27710

Date: Sep 24, 2026

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.

$15,000.00 Commitment Bonus for Experienced RNs

*Relocation available for New and Experienced RNs up to $8,000

*Up to $25,000 student loan forgiveness

What You Can Expect

Location: 2301 Erwin Rd, Durham, NC 27710
Duke Birthing Center, Duke University Hospital

Duke University Health System seeks to hire an experienced Registered Nurse who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together.

The Duke Birthing Center at Duke University Hospital provides a personalized birth experience in a safe, comfortable, and family-centered environment. We deliver more than 4,000 babies annually and specialize in caring for women and infants with complex maternal health needs. Our Level IV maternal care facility includes a 10-bed OB ED, 20 labor beds, and 3 operating room suites. The unit offers 24/7 multidisciplinary coverage from Maternal Fetal Medicine providers, Obstetricians, Midwives, Neonatologists, and a dedicated Anesthesia team.

Team members are part of a highly collaborative, shared governance environment that combines advanced maternity care technology with a strong culture of compassion, respect, and family-centered care. Our experienced and close-knit team is committed to delivering exceptional outcomes and creating a positive birth experience for every patient and family we serve.

Schedule:

• Full-time
• Day shift
• Two 12-hour clinical shifts and two 8-hour office-hour shifts per week
• Schedule subject to change based on departmental needs

How You Will Make an Impact

• Plan and provide advanced and specialized nursing care in accordance with the Discipline of Nursing Clinical Ladder Program and the North Carolina Board of Nursing.
• Identify care needs for patient populations across the continuum of care.
• Collaborate in the development of standards of care, patient and family education, and staff development initiatives.
• Provide clinical leadership within a multidisciplinary care team to ensure exceptional patient outcomes.
• Lead educational activities, departmental committees, research projects, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Support the evaluation, selection, and utilization of equipment and material resources to enhance patient care.
• Guide the professional growth of nurses and healthcare team members through coaching, mentoring, role modeling, and precepting.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide recommendations regarding hiring, performance management, and other personnel actions.
• Lead unit, departmental, organizational, and community initiatives focused on improving quality, safety, and patient experience.

Clinical Nurse IV Leader Responsibilities

Leadership & Regulatory

• Monitor clinical practice and ensure compliance with regulatory and professional standards.
• Collaborate with unit leadership to coach and mentor nursing colleagues.
• Support recruitment, retention, and professional development efforts.

Education

• Plan and lead educational sessions for staff.
• Assess unit educational needs and collaborate with Clinical Nurse Educators and Clinical Nurse Specialists to address learning opportunities.
• Promote evidence-based practice and adult learning principles.

Informatics

• Serve as a super user and resource for clinical information systems.
• Communicate and support technology implementation and workflow changes.
• Assist staff with troubleshooting and adoption of new technologies.
• Facilitate service requests and provide ongoing technology education.
• Analyze patient care data and collaborate with subject matter experts to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.
• Participate in multidisciplinary quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Support nursing staff in quality assurance activities and best practices.
• Engage in research and innovation efforts to improve patient outcomes and operational excellence.

What You Will Need

• Graduation from an accredited nursing program with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
• Minimum of two years of nursing experience.
• Current Clinical Nurse II and Clinical Nurse III team members are eligible to apply.
• Applicants will perform the duties and responsibilities of the Clinical Nurse IV role.
• Current RN licensure in North Carolina or compact RN licensure.
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong knowledge of professional nursing practice, standards of care, and the nursing process.
• Ability to assess and address the needs of acute and chronically ill patients and their families.
• Excellent leadership, coaching, mentoring, and communication skills.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with patients, families, physicians, leadership, and interdisciplinary teams.
• Proficiency with electronic health records and clinical information systems.
• Knowledge of infection prevention, patient safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Ability to lead change and identify innovative solutions to improve quality and efficiency.
• Ability to remain organized, prioritize effectively, and manage multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.

Duke is an 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 (including pregnancy and pregnancy related conditions), sexual orientation or military 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.

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 essential job 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.

Nearest Major Market: Durham
Nearest Secondary Market: Raleigh

Read more about Duke’s commitment to affirmative action and nondiscrimination at hr.duke.edu/eeo.