Unit Director RN, ED

Rush University Medical Center; Oak Park (IL); On-site; USD 79,000 - 118,000; Full time

Job summary

Rush Oak Park Hospital in Oak Park, IL is seeking an experienced Unit Director RN to lead the Emergency Department. The role combines clinical leadership with operational oversight to ensure high-quality patient care and staff development.

The position requires Illinois RN licensure, ACLS, and a commitment to evidence-based practice, teamwork, and safety. Typical duties include directing unit operations and collaborating with the University and departments to achieve positive outcomes.

Qualifications

• State-licensed RN in Illinois with ACLS and CPR certifications.
• Experience leading nursing teams in high-acuity units.
• Strong communication and evidence-based practice skills.

Responsibilities

• Oversees clinical and operational functions for assigned units.
• Leads quality initiatives and evidence-based practice projects.
• Manages staffing, mentorship, and interdepartmental collaboration.
• Ensures safety, regulatory compliance, and patient satisfaction.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Nursing leadership

Education

RN licensure Illinois

ACLS certification

Job description

Job Description

Location: Oak Park, Illinois

Business Unit: Rush Oak Park

Hospital: Rush Oak Park Hospital

Department: Emergency Department

Work Type: Full Time (Total FTE between 0.9 and 1.0)

Shift: Shift 1

Work Schedule: 8 Hr (7:00:00 AM - 3:30:00 PM)

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits learn more at our Rush benefits page (https://www.rush.edu/rush-careers/employee-benefits).

Pay Range: $57.36 - $85.47 per hour

Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case.

Summary:

The Unit Director is the clinical and business manager for specific patient care units(s). The Unit Director provides direction and vision and creates human, operational and organizational systems that assure exemplary patient care. Exemplifies the Rush mission, vision and values and acts in accordance with Rush policies and procedures.

Other information:

• Current State of Illinois Registered Nurse Licensure
• Current CPR
• ACLS for Unit Directors of: ED, ICU, Telemetry, Endoscopy, PACU
• National certification (exceptions noted below)
• Candidates external to the Division of Nursing or ROPH with a graduate degree are required to acquire National Certification within 24 months of assuming position.
• Candidates external to the Division of Nursing or ROPH enrolled in a graduate program are required to continuously take course work toward degree completion and acquire national certification within 24 months after degree completion.
• An advanced level of analytical ability and problem solving skills.
• Ability to use electronic business programs and technology.
• Demonstrates the ability to work in complex organizational systems or programs.
• Communication skill in order to lead, teach and persuade others.
• Able to interact effectively with others in difficult situations that encompass organizational and departmental issues.

Physical Demands:

• Work requires 24/7 accountability and the ability to supervise and manage staff across that time.
• Work requires the ability to assume the charge nurse role.
• Work requires the ability to walk throughout the ROPH structures and to be standing or walking most of the designated shift.
• Work requires lifting or carrying objects 30 lbs. and lifting and positioning patients with appropriate lift devices.
• The ability to check documents for errors, use a keyboard to enter or retrieve data, and closely examine specimen images and reports.
• Work conditions include performing procedures where carelessness could result in injury or illness and contact with potentially infectious materials and/or strong chemical agents.

Responsibilities:

Evidence Based Practice:

• Accountable for quality outcomes which incorporates established methodology to drive process improvement.
• Leads unit and department quality initiatives, research and /or evidence based activities utilizing best current evidence.
• Develops effective strategies for changing clinician and team behavior to encourage adoption of evidence based practices.
• Provides leadership in the design, implementation and evaluation of process improvement initiatives at the unit and department level.

Relationships and Caring:

• Creates an environment which establishes a caring, therapeutic relationship with patients and families through effective communication, acknowledgement of patient/family perceptions of health and illness and mutual goal setting.
• Establishes constructive and strategic partnerships with peers, professional nurses, the University, other disciplines and departments to achieve positive clinical and service outcomes.
• Uses leadership, team building, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills to build partnerships within and across units and departments.
• Establishes a climate that fosters open communication, values differing points of view and promotes shared governance.
• Creates and maintains a just culture for all constituents across disciplines.
• Develops a climate that optimizes the patient and family experience through supportive interactions and staff education.

Critical Thinking:

• Promotes the development of critical thinking skills of all unit personnel through appreciative inquiry.
• Critically reviews cases and events to determine the root causes and develop action plans for improvement.
• Responds to societal and technological trends, issues and new developments as they pertain to nursing and healthcare.

Technical Expertise:

• Creates and promotes a culture of safety and accountability.
• Articulates standards and monitors compliance with the State Nurse Practice Act, State Board of Nursing
• Regulations, regulatory agency standards and the policies of the organization.
• Demonstrates information literacy skills in complex decision-making.
• Utilizes clinical information systems to promote safety, quality and cost effective care.
• Strategically plans for ongoing education to acquire new knowledge and skills.

Leadership:

• Translates the nursing and corporate vision and strategic plan into measurable unit goals and sustainable programs.
• Creates and maintains a supportive and healthy work environment.
• Advances practice through the development of innovations incorporating the principles of change.
• Assumes a leadership role in analytical problem solving of both clinical and system wide issues.
• Mentors and coaches delegation and management skills along with career development.
• Creates an environment in which professional growth is an expectation.
• Demonstrates accountability for own professional practice, including progress toward achievement of annual goals.
• Provides and invites ongoing performance feedback to peers, staff and other disciplines to achieve positive clinical and service outcomes.

Systems:

• Analyzes fiscal and budgetary implications when modifying practice and operational systems.
• Creates a human resource strategy which includes the management of performance through recruitment, rewards, recognition, counseling and disciplinary action.
• Establishes procedures and processes to ensure administrative management of the unit.
• Demonstrates financial accountability by managing human and capital resources in accordance with the annual budget.

Rush is an equal opportunity employer. We evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, and other legally protected characteristics.

Position

Unit Director RN, ED

Location

US:IL:Oak Park

Req ID

31036