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About Duke Life Flight

Pursue your passion for caring with Duke Life Flight, which is Duke Health's critical care and emergency air and ground transport team, accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Medical Transport Systems. The team includes paramedics, nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency medical technicians, and communications specialists who work quickly to provide compassionate care and transport services to critically ill patients of all ages. Duke Life Flight also maintains a Code Blue Response Team and helps support event medicine needs.

Clinical Nurse IV Leader - Duke Life Flight

REPORTING RESPONSIBILITY
The Clinical Nurse IV (CN IV) Leader reports directly to the Nurse Manager and collaborates with interdisciplinary teams to oversee nursing operations and patient care standards.

OCCUPATIONAL SUMMARY
The CN IV Leader is responsible for overseeing daily operations, coordinating program initiatives, and managing clinical personnel. The role is divided between administrative (40%) and clinical (60%) responsibilities, ensuring high-quality patient care and compliance with institutional and regulatory standards.  

CLINICAL DUTIES:

• Provides direct patient care for a minimum of two 12-hour shifts per week.
• Travels to satellite locations as necessary to support program operations.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education: Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Experience: Minimum of 5 years of nursing experience in a critical care setting; leadership experience preferred.
• Licensure/Certification: Must hold current RN licensure in North Carolina or a compact state; BLS certification required.
• Preferred Experience: Prior experience in medical transport or a specialized clinical setting.

WORK PERFORMED

1. Program and Staff Management:
   • Oversees daily transport and clinical operations, ensuring compliance with policies and procedures.
   • Monitors and maintains all up to date licensure requirements for all staff in collaboration with the Supervisor / Educator
   • Manages staffing and scheduling for assigned personnel in collaboration with the unit Supervisor / Educator.
   • Leads orientation and training programs.
   • Provides mentorship and guidance to team members.
   • Conducts performance evaluations and manages professional development initiatives for all assigned employees. Available to lead and supervise all employees on the team.
   • Leads and manages staff schedules in collaboration with the Schedule Committee and leadership team members for all staffing units needs
2. Clinical Oversight & Patient Care:
   • Serves as a resource for clinical decision-making and patient care management.
   • Reviews patient charts and provides feedback for continuous quality improvement.
   • Ensures adherence to evidence-based practice guidelines and institutional protocols.
3. Compliance & Regulatory Standards:
   • Ensures compliance with The Joint Commission (TJC), CAMTS, GAMUT, Magnet and other accrediting bodies.
   • Monitors adherence to hospital-wide policies and standards of care.
   • Oversees credentialing and competency validation for clinical staff.
4. Quality Improvement & Research:
   • Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to analyze patient care data and identify areas for improvement.
   • Engages in research initiatives and quality assurance projects.
   • Leads performance improvement initiatives to enhance patient safety and operational efficiency.
5. Education & Staff Development:
   • Develops and delivers in-service training and continuing education programs.
   • Serves as a mentor and preceptor for nursing students and new hires.
   • Works with clinical educators to assess training needs and implement educational initiatives.
6. Collaboration & Communication:
   • Partners with IT specialists to enhance clinical technology use and troubleshooting.
   • Works closely with leadership teams to align operational goals with institutional priorities.
   • Collaborates with medical directors to optimize care delivery and clinical protocols.
7. Operational & Budgetary Responsibilities:
   • Assists in budget planning, resource allocation and payroll activity as assigned.
   • Provides recommendations for equipment and technology enhancements.
   • Ensures cost-effective management of resources while maintaining high standards of care.
8. Transport Program Oversight:
   • Works in conjunction with pilots and fleet coordinators to maintain safe and efficient transport operations.
   • Establishes and nurtures relationships with affiliate hospitals and emergency response teams.
   • Participates in emergency preparedness planning and response coordination.
9. Leadership & Professional Growth:
   • Leads department initiatives to enhance patient experience and quality of care.
   • Represents the unit in institutional committees and external professional organizations.
   • Assists in preparing and leading staff meetings, committee meetings and formal team initiatives as assigned
   • Engages in professional development opportunities to stay current with best practices and industry advancements.
   • Maintains all Clinical Nurse IV level requirements

Distinguishing Characteristics of this Level
The CN IV Leader is a highly skilled clinician and leader who influences change by fostering collaboration, driving quality improvement initiatives, and mentoring future nursing professionals. This role requires advanced problem-solving abilities, strong communication skills, and the capacity to lead at departmental, institutional, and regional levels.

Duke is an Affirmative Action/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, sexual orientation, or veteran 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.

Essential Physical Job Functions: Certain jobs at Duke University and Duke University Health System may include essentialjob 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.

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About Duke University Health System

As a world-class academic and health care system, Duke Health strives to transform medicine and health locally and globally through innovative scientific research, rapid translation of breakthrough discoveries, educating future clinical and scientific leaders, advocating and practicing evidence-based medicine to improve community health, and leading efforts to eliminate health inequalities.

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