Nurse Manager - NICU

sanford; Fargo (ND); On-site; USD 100,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Sanford Health's NICU in the heartland is seeking an experienced nursing leader to manage day-to-day operations for a Level IV, 40-bed NICU. You will schedule staffing, ensure high‑quality patient care, and guide a multidisciplinary team across 24/7 neonatology coverage and family‑centered care.

This Magnet‑recognized facility offers opportunities for professional growth within a system committed to world‑class neonatal care close to home.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing required.
• Graduate from CCNE/ACEN/NLN CNEA accredited nursing program preferred.
• Minimum of three years of clinical nursing experience; two years management/leadership experience preferred.
• Current unencumbered RN license (also multistate license if in an NLC state).

Responsibilities

• Oversee and assist with scheduling nursing staff to shifts, considering past utilization trends.
• Balance department and unit needs with patient care priorities.
• May fill in for clinical support staff when staffing gaps exist.
• Develop trusting relationships with patients with empathy and professionalism.
• Participate in tasks forces, committees, and staff meetings to support department initiatives.
• Review clinical performance assessments and recommend process improvements.
• Implement performance improvement policies and train staff on them.
• Support budget information collection and preparation.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical nursing experience

Quality management knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in nursing

Job description

Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland.

Work Shift:

8 Hours - Day Shifts (United States of America)

Scheduled Weekly Hours:

40

Union Position:

No

Department Details

Join Sanford Children's Hospital NICU and make a difference in the lives of the region's most vulnerable infants. Our NICU received designation from the AAP as a Level IV nursery. As a Magnet-recognized, 40-bed regional referral NICU, we provide advanced neonatal care for infants as early as 22 weeks' gestation and care for more than 560 NICU admissions annually. Our team attends approximately 1,248 deliveries each year. Our specialized Neonatal Flight Team transports critically ill newborns from across North Dakota, South Dakota, and western Minnesota. With a dedicated Micropreemie Program, 24/7 neonatology and NNP coverage, strong multidisciplinary collaboration, and a family-centered care environment, Sanford Children's offers an exceptional opportunity for nurses and providers to grow professionally while delivering world-class neonatal care close to home.

Summary

Manages the day-to-day operations for nursing staff and nursing activities for an assigned unit, including patient care, record keeping, and personnel issues. Responsible for implementing the mission, vision, policies, goals, and objectives of the organization and the nursing/clinical services within their area(s).

Job Description

Oversee and assist with scheduling nursing staff to specific shifts, taking into account past utilization trends. Awareness of key clinical concepts relevant to the healthcare setting with the ability to balance department and unit needs with patient care priorities. May fill in for clinical support staff when staffing gaps exist. Develops trusting relationships with patients by demonstrating an empathetic and professional attitude. Actively participate in tasks force, committees, staff meetings, etc. to assist with the department initiatives, implement goals, and organizational strategies. Manages the process in reviewing results of clinical performance assessments and recommends process improvements. Implements established performance improvement policies and trains employees on these policies. Knowledge of quality management methods, tools, and techniques and ability to create and support an environment that meets the quality goals of the organization. Assist with providing feedback in the collection and preparation of required budget information.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in nursing required.

Graduate from a nationally accredited nursing program preferred, including, but not limited to, Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN), and National League for Nursing Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (NLN CNEA).

For Rural Health Network facilities only, employees hired after January, 2025, who do not possess a Bachelor's degree in the required field, leadership may consider an educational plan with proven continuous action toward achieving a Bachelor's degree in Nursing within five years of hire into position. Approval from the Nursing Executive for the market is required in order to waive the bachelor degree requirement at time of hire. Additionally for Rural Health Network facilities, for current employees, leadership may have considered acceptable qualifications and work experience equivalency based on facility size, rural market, and business need, prior to new Sanford education requirements.

Minimum of three years of clinical nursing experience preferred. Two years management/leadership experience preferred.

Thorough knowledge of the nursing practice act and standards of nursing care, and a working knowledge of administrative and management techniques.

Currently holds an unencumbered RN license with the State Board of Nursing where the practice of nursing is occurring and/or possess multistate licensure if in a Nurse Licensure Compact (NLC) state. Obtains and subsequently maintains required department spec