What does a registered nurse unit manager do?
A Registered Nurse Unit Manager supervises the care of people who need hospice or long-term care. Another duty is to review clinical records for completeness and accuracy, as necessary.
Registered nurse unit manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real registered nurse unit manager resumes:
- Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
- Obtain weekly wind care measurements and assessments with completion of wind care flow sheets and given to MDS assessor.
- Provide and coordinate direct patient care on a skil nursing rehabilitation unit.
- Ensure HIPAA compliance by monitoring and educating staff as needed.
- Assure that unit practices are consistent with professional nursing standards, regulatory and HIPAA requirements.
- Monitor resident s consumption levels (monthly and weekly weights) and report significant weight loss to the MDS coordinator.
- Identify HEDIS measures that are calculate using only CMS administrative data, finalize the method for determining the numerator and denominator.
- Maintain excellent sanitation to ensure cleanliness and safety.
- Coordinate with rehabilitation to insure patient's best possible recovery.
- Conduct daily inspections to insure safety and cleanliness of institution.
- Collect medical records and abstract data per HEDIS guidelines for auditing purposes
- Collaborate with ER physicians/nursing staff in identifying at-risk patients in need of real-time case management intervention and follow-up.
- Conduct and administer fiscal operations, including payroll, planning budgets, authorizing expenditures, and coordinating financial reporting.
- Monitor budget and daily productivity, participate in policy and procedure updates, produce payroll, and conduct chart audits/review.
- Plan and implement nursing care for patients with diverse diagnoses, including hematology/oncology, endocrine, and pulmonary disease processes.
Registered nurse unit manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 20% of Registered Nurse Unit Managers are proficient in Home Health, Patients, and Rehabilitation. They’re also known for soft skills such as Emotional stability, Organizational skills, and Management skills.
We break down the percentage of Registered Nurse Unit Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Home Health, 20%
Arranged follow-up appointments, transportation needs, Home Health orders, Hospice and Psychiatrist interventions, Podiatrists and Ophthalmologists lists.
- Patients, 19%
Insured high quality of care provided to patients through constant assessment and encouraging communication and proper medical interventions among medical team.
- Rehabilitation, 13%
Assist Director in establishing and updating policies and procedures for the Physical Rehabilitation Unit.
- Term Care, 9%
Skilled nursing care in a long-term care/rehab facility
- Care Management, 5%
Coordinated interdisciplinary patient/resident care management efforts.
- Compassion, 5%
Demonstrate clinical competency and compassion in providing care, using technology, administering medications, performing procedures and managing emergencies.
"home health," "patients," and "rehabilitation" are among the most common skills that registered nurse unit managers use at work. You can find even more registered nurse unit manager responsibilities below, including:
Emotional stability. The most essential soft skill for a registered nurse unit manager to carry out their responsibilities is emotional stability. This skill is important for the role because "registered nurses need emotional resilience and the ability to cope with human suffering, emergencies, and other stressors." Additionally, a registered nurse unit manager resume shows how their duties depend on emotional stability: "provided direct patient care with emphasis on meeting both physical and emotional needs to residents. "
Organizational skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling registered nurse unit manager duties is organizational skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "nurses often work with multiple patients who have a variety of health needs." According to a registered nurse unit manager resume, here's how registered nurse unit managers can utilize organizational skills in their job responsibilities: "ensured the provision of specified nursing services to meet legal, organizational and medicare and medicaid guidelines. "
Communication skills. Another skill commonly found on registered nurse unit manager job descriptions is "communication skills." It can come up quite often in registered nurse unit manager duties, since "registered nurses must be able to communicate effectively with patients in order to understand their concerns and evaluate their health conditions." Here's an example from a resume of how this skill fits into day-to-day registered nurse unit manager responsibilities: "maintain effective communication with ancillary services: home health, pt/ot, diagnostic services, pharmacy, dietary and etc. "
The three companies that hire the most registered nurse unit managers are:
- ProMedica Toledo Hospital575 registered nurse unit managers jobs
- The Center for Health Care Services106 registered nurse unit managers jobs
- HCR ManorCare94 registered nurse unit managers jobs
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Compare different registered nurse unit managers
Registered nurse unit manager vs. Emergency department registered nurse
An emergency registered nurse is first in line for patients who need a response. These nurses are first to respond to emergency cases such as trauma, allergic reactions, and injuries. They assist doctors and other medical staff in emergency medical care. It is their responsibility to always provide high-quality standards for nursing. The skills they should possess include diligence, attention to detail, levelheadedness, and strong communication. They also need to be knowledgeable about emergency care.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between registered nurse unit managers and emergency department registered nurse. For instance, registered nurse unit manager responsibilities require skills such as "term care," "care management," "quality care," and "infection control." Whereas a emergency department registered nurse is skilled in "acls," "acute care," "life support," and "patient outcomes." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Emergency department registered nurses earn the highest salaries when working in the health care industry, with an average yearly salary of $77,094. On the other hand, registered nurse unit managers are paid more in the non profits industry with an average salary of $89,160.emergency department registered nurses tend to reach similar levels of education than registered nurse unit managers. In fact, emergency department registered nurses are 4.0% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.1% more likely to have a Doctoral Degree.Registered nurse unit manager vs. Psychiatric registered nurse
A registered psychiatric nurse works alongside mental health experts to develop and administer psychiatric treatment plans according to the patients' needs. Among their responsibilities include gathering and organizing patient information, studying the patients' medical histories, conducting interviews and assessments, providing counseling, administering medicine, and restraining unsettled patients. There are also instances when they must conduct inspections to remove potentially harmful objects and provide psychoeducation to the patients' families. Above all, a registered psychiatric nurse must closely monitor the behavior of patients, record their daily progress, and report to the psychiatrists regularly.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that registered nurse unit manager responsibilities requires skills like "term care," "care management," "infection control," and "federal regulations." But a psychiatric registered nurse might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "patient safety," "substance abuse," "triage," and "im."
Psychiatric registered nurses may earn a lower salary than registered nurse unit managers, but psychiatric registered nurses earn the most pay in the health care industry with an average salary of $79,959. On the other hand, registered nurse unit managers receive higher pay in the non profits industry, where they earn an average salary of $89,160.In general, psychiatric registered nurses achieve similar levels of education than registered nurse unit managers. They're 3.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.1% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.What technology do you think will become more important and prevalent for registered nurse unit managers in the next 3-5 years?
Dr. Beverly Malone Ph.D.
President and CEO, National League for Nursing
Virtual learning may also benefit students in the area of telehealth. An increase in virtual learning will help students prepare to support their future patients through telehealth visits and help them be more comfortable during the virtual interview process and diagnosis. It may keep older adults at home or in nursing home care settings, rather than the frequently difficult transition to hospitals.
Virtual learning widens the pool for preceptors in remote locations across the nation and around the world. Without the limitations of geography, compatible matching of students and preceptors is more easily facilitated. Telehealth and mobile apps can also help close the gaps in care that have been documented throughout underserved communities.
Registered nurse unit manager vs. Contractor-registered nurse
A contractor-registered nurse is responsible for taking care of patients in a medical facility or a similar setting under a contractual arrangement. Their responsibilities are no different from regular registered nurses. They also administer medicines, assist patients and their families, manage schedules, monitor patient conditions, update charts, maintain accurate records, and work full-time. Furthermore, they must coordinate with physicians and other health experts in creating and executing care plans for patients, all while maintaining an active communication line.
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a registered nurse unit manager is likely to be skilled in "care management," "quality care," "federal regulations," and "customer service," while a typical contractor-registered nurse is skilled in "bls," "icu," "acls," and "acute care."
Contractor-registered nurses earn the highest salary when working in the health care industry, where they receive an average salary of $145,371. Comparatively, registered nurse unit managers have the highest earning potential in the non profits industry, with an average salary of $89,160.Most contractor-registered nurses achieve a similar degree level compared to registered nurse unit managers. For example, they're 3.8% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.3% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Registered nurse unit manager vs. Telemetry registered nurse
A telemetry registered nurse is a healthcare professional who specializes in caring for patients with heart disease or other medical issues that require continuous telemetry monitoring. Telemetry registered nurses are required to read and monitor the output of electrocardiograms (EKGs), which translate the heart's electrical impulses into a readable rhythm. They must respond to patients who are experiencing cardiac pain and perform various diagnostic tests. Telemetry registered nurses must also assist doctors with different procedures and treatments for cardiac issues.
Types of registered nurse unit manager
Updated January 8, 2025
