RN Manager – Neuro Trauma Progressive Care Unit (PCU)

Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Salary Range: $100,000–$148,000, Based on Experience
Leadership Opportunity | Level II Trauma & Comprehensive Stroke Program

An exceptional opportunity is available for an experienced RN Manager – Neuro Trauma PCU to join the nursing leadership team of a highly respected 240-bed acute care hospital in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

This position offers the opportunity to lead a specialized 23-bed Progressive Neuro/Trauma Unit caring for complex neurological, stroke, neurosurgical, and trauma patients. The hospital serves communities throughout New Hampshire, Maine, and Massachusetts and is recognized as an ACS-Verified Level II Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center.

We're seeking a strong clinical nursing leader who understands the complexity of neuro and trauma care and can develop staff, improve quality outcomes, strengthen patient and physician satisfaction, and successfully manage the day-to-day operations of a busy progressive care unit.

Importantly, the organization is open to considering an experienced Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Nursing Supervisor, or seasoned Charge Nurse with 5+ years of leadership experience who is ready to take the next step into management.

About the Unit

The RN Manager will oversee a 23-bed Progressive Neuro/Trauma PCU providing care for a diverse and clinically complex patient population.

The unit cares for patients with conditions including:

• Acute and recovering strokes
• Craniotomies
• Intracranial and brain bleeds
• Seizure disorders
• Altered mental status
• Neck and spinal injuries
• Rib fractures
• Femur and pelvic fractures
• Complex injuries resulting from falls, motor vehicle accidents, and other trauma

The patient population is managed collaboratively by hospitalists, trauma providers, neurosurgery, nursing, and other interdisciplinary specialists.

This is an excellent environment for a nursing leader who enjoys high-acuity patient care and wants to continue developing their expertise in both neurological and trauma nursing leadership.

Position Overview

Reporting to the department Director, the Neuro Trauma PCU Nurse Manager provides clinical and operational leadership for the unit while working closely with the Director, Clinical Educator, resource nurses, physicians, and interdisciplinary teams.

The Manager will be responsible for staff leadership, patient care quality, scheduling, performance management, patient experience, regulatory compliance, quality initiatives, and fiscal stewardship.

This leader will also assume responsibility for departmental operations in the Director's absence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day clinical and operational leadership for the 23-bed Neuro Trauma Progressive Care Unit.
• Lead, mentor, coach, and develop nursing staff while promoting a culture of accountability, teamwork, and clinical excellence.
• Maintain strong clinical knowledge of neuro, trauma, stroke, and progressive care nursing.
• Oversee staffing and scheduling to ensure appropriate coverage based on patient acuity and volume.
• Conduct patient and staff rounding to promote exceptional clinical care and patient satisfaction.
• Collaborate with physicians and interdisciplinary teams on patient care planning and clinical outcomes.
• Support admission, transfer, and discharge coordination to maintain efficient patient flow.
• Partner with the Clinical Educator to develop and maintain staff competencies.
• Participate in interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and retention of nursing personnel.
• Conduct and support annual employee performance evaluations.
• Develop performance improvement and learning plans for employees as appropriate.
• Provide coaching, counseling, corrective action, and disciplinary management when necessary.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, national nursing standards, hospital policies, and specialty nursing standards.
• Monitor the delivery of high-quality patient care and evaluate clinical outcomes.
• Participate in departmental budget development and financial management.
• Monitor staffing, supplies, equipment, productivity, and departmental resources.
• Participate in procurement and management of capital and non-capital equipment.
• Assume operational responsibility for the department in the absence of the Director.
• Participate in staff meetings, leadership meetings, quality committees, and interdisciplinary initiatives.
• Provide direct clinical support during significant patient volume surges or internal/external emergencies when necessary.

Quality & Patient Safety

The Nurse Manager will play an important role in maintaining and improving the unit's clinical performance.

Responsibilities include:

• Conducting and reviewing quality audits.
• Monitoring core measures and departmental quality indicators.
• Reviewing medication scanning compliance.
• Monitoring medication protocol documentation.
• Identifying opportunities to improve patient safety and clinical outcomes.
• Participating in quality and performance improvement meetings.
• Ensuring compliance with stroke, trauma, and neurological standards of care.
• Promoting consistent patient rounding and service excellence.
• Working with nursing staff and interdisciplinary teams to improve care planning and patient outcomes.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) required.
• Current New Hampshire RN license or qualifying Compact State RN license.
• Minimum of 1 year of nursing leadership experience at the Coordinator, Supervisor, Manager, or higher level.
• BLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
• ACLS certification required within 30 days of hire.
• Strong acute care nursing background.

Preferred Qualifications

• Critical Care, Progressive Care, Neuro, Trauma, or Stroke nursing experience.
• Previous Nurse Manager or Clinical Nurse Coordinator experience.
• Experience leading high-acuity nursing teams.
• Knowledge of stroke and trauma quality measures and regulatory requirements.
• Experience with staff development, performance management, scheduling, and quality improvement.

Leadership Candidates Encouraged to Apply

The organization is willing to consider strong emerging nursing leaders who are ready to advance into management.

Candidates may come from backgrounds including:

• Nurse Manager
• Assistant Nurse Manager
• Clinical Nurse Coordinator
• Nursing Supervisor
• Neuro/Trauma Coordinator
• PCU/Stepdown Coordinator
• Experienced Charge Nurse

A seasoned Charge Nurse with approximately 5+ years of strong leadership experience and the appropriate clinical background may be considered, making this an excellent opportunity for someone ready to take the next significant step in their nursing leadership career.

Ideal Candidate

We're looking for a nursing leader who combines strong clinical knowledge with an approachable, visible leadership style.

The strongest candidate will be able to:

• Lead and develop a high-performing nursing team.
• Demonstrate strong knowledge of Neuro/Trauma patient care.
• Successfully manage a high-acuity progressive care environment.
• Build strong relationships with physicians and interdisciplinary teams.
• Maintain a strong focus on patient safety, quality, and clinical outcomes.
• Coach and mentor nurses while holding staff accountable to performance expectations.
• Effectively manage staffing, productivity, and departmental resources.
• Remain calm and decisive during periods of high patient volume and clinical complexity.
• Provide hands-on support to the team when circumstances require it.

Compensation

Salary Range: $100,000–$148,000

Compensation will be determined based on the candidate's experience, qualifications, and leadership background.

The position also offers a comprehensive benefits package and significant opportunities for continued professional and leadership development.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

For a Neuro, Trauma, Critical Care, or Progressive Care nursing leader, this position offers an outstanding combination of clinical complexity and career growth.

You'll lead a specialized 23-bed Neuro Trauma PCU within an ACS-Verified Level II Trauma Center and Comprehensive Stroke Center, working alongside experienced hospitalists, trauma specialists, neurosurgery providers, and nursing leadership.

This is particularly attractive for a strong Clinical Nurse Coordinator, Supervisor, or seasoned Charge Nurse who has been looking for the right opportunity to move into formal nursing management.

If you're an experienced nursing leader with a passion for Neuro/Trauma care and you're ready to take ownership of a high-performing progressive care unit, we'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you about this confidential leadership position.