Registered Nurse - Unit Educator - Elective Surgery

Henry-Ford-Health-2; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

Henry Ford Health in Detroit is seeking an experienced Registered Nurse to serve as Unit Educator for Elective Surgery. You will design and implement education and quality initiatives on a fast-paced post-surgical unit.

Under the Nurse Manager, you will lead evidence-based practice, mentor staff, and promote patient-centered care. Requirements include a BSN and Michigan RN license, BLS within 30 days, and demonstrated leadership, communication, and teaching skills.

Qualifications

• BSN required and Michigan RN license.
• Interest and ability to teach patients, families and co-workers.
• Leadership, communication, problem solving and organizational skills.
• Flexibility, self-direction and initiative required.
• BLS Provider within 30 days of hire; AHA or ARC accepted.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement educational and quality initiatives on the unit.
• Demonstrate clinical excellence with evidence-based practice and QI.
• Maintain adherence to nursing care standards and job requirements.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Problem solving

Organizational skills

Flexibility

Initiative

Teaching patients

BLS Certification

Self-directiveness

Education

Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN)

Michigan RN licensure

Job description

Registered Nurse - Unit Educator - Elective Surgery

• Full-time

At Henry Ford Health, we're committed to advancing health and improving lives for the millions of people we serve across Michigan and around the world. As one of the nation's leading academic health systems, we provide a comprehensive continuum of care that includes primary and preventive services, specialty and complex care, virtual care, pharmacy, home health, eye care, health insurance, and more. With 12 hospitals and hundreds of ambulatory care locations, including former Ascension Southeast Michigan and Flint Region facilities, our growing network expands access to exceptional care in the communities we serve.

Headquartered in Detroit, Henry Ford Health is helping shape the future of healthcare through the transformative Future of Health: Detroit initiative, a $3 billion investment that is redefining our academic healthcare campus and advancing innovation, research, education, and community impact.

Our work is grounded in purpose, collaboration, and belonging. We empower team members to grow their careers, contribute innovative ideas, and make a meaningful difference every day. Whether you're caring for patients, supporting operations, conducting research, or driving new solutions, you'll be part of a team united by a shared mission: delivering exceptional care, advancing health outcomes, and building healthier communities for all.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

Schedule: 36 hours weekly, Night shift 7:00 PM to 7:30 AM, Three 12-hour shifts per week, rotating every other weekend and observed holiday

Under the direction of the Nurse Manager and in collaboration with the Clinical Nurse Specialist and Nursing Development Educators, develops and implements educational and quality improvement initiatives on the nursing unit. Demonstrates clinical excellence through evidence-based practice, continuous quality improvement, and integration of current nursing knowledge. Maintains adherence to all nursing care standards and job description requirements.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required. Current Michigan RN licensure required. Equivalent of four years clinical experience with defined patient population preferred. Demonstrates interest and ability to teach patients, families and co-workers. Demonstrates leadership, good communication skills, problem solving and organizational skills, flexibility, self-directiveness and initiative required. BLS Provider obtained within 1 Month (30 days) of hire date or job transfer date required. American Heart Association or American Red Cross accepted.

Unit Description:

Our unit is a fast-paced, high-acuity post-surgical environment dedicated to delivering exceptional, patient-centered care. We specialize in providing care for a diverse range of post-surgical patient procedures, including general surgery, urological, vascular, colorectal, and gynecological surgeries. In addition, we are proud to support specialized bariatric surgical procedures and manage complex therapies such as epidurals, tracheostomies, continuous bladder irrigation (CBI), chest tubes, and patient-controlled analgesia (PCA's), while also serving as a surgical trauma overflow unit.

As a closed unit, we foster a strong sense of teamwork, consistency, and collaboration among our staff, creating a supportive and cohesive work environment. Our scheduling model includes every third weekend, promoting a balanced and predictable work-life schedule. We are proud of our high nurse retention rate, reflecting a positive workplace culture where staff feel valued and supported.

Our team is composed of dynamic, highly skilled nurses who thrive in a collaborative and supportive atmosphere. We are committed to excellence in clinical practice and continuous learning, which is reflected in our consistently strong patient satisfaction scores and the quality of care we deliver. What sets our unit apart is our holistic approach—we care for the whole person, addressing not only physical recovery but also emotional and spiritual well-being. Our nurses build meaningful connections with patients and families, fostering trust, compassion, and healing in every interaction.

If you are looking for a challenging yet rewarding environment where your skills will be valued and your growth supported, our unit offers the opportunity to be part of a passionate team making a real difference every day.