Nurse Manager -ICU

The Nurse Manager for Intensive Care provides clinical, operational and administrative leadership across critical-care nursing services. The role is accountable for safe, evidence-based and person-centred care across adult ICU, paediatric ICU, long-term critical care and adult step-down services. The manager supports high clinical standards, develops nursing capability, oversees resource use and works with medical and allied-health leaders to improve patient outcomes and service performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead nursing practice across critical-care areas and ensure compliance with clinical pathways, evidence-based protocols, hospital policies and accreditation requirements.
• Maintain effective clinical surveillance, promote early recognition of deterioration and ensure timely escalation of critical conditions.
• Oversee safe care involving mechanical ventilation, invasive devices, haemodynamic monitoring and high-risk medications.
• Coordinate safe admissions, transfers, discharges and clinical handovers with other departments and multidisciplinary teams.
• Monitor quality and safety indicators, including pressure injuries, central-line and urinary-catheter infections, ventilator-associated complications, medication safety, sepsis response and resuscitation readiness.
• Review clinical outcomes, identify risks and lead improvement actions to reduce avoidable complications and improve patient experience.
• Maintain staff competency, workforce performance and appropriate resource utilization; support education and professional development.
• Oversee care planning for long-term critical-care patients, including complication prevention, rehabilitation, family engagement and safe transition planning.

Requirements and Qualifications

A Bachelor of Science in Nursing is required. A Master’s degree in Nursing, Healthcare Management or a related field is preferred. Candidates need a valid DHA nursing license or eligibility, 7–10 years of progressive nursing experience with substantial adult critical-care practice, and at least five years in critical-care leadership or supervision. Recognized critical-care certification such as CCRN is preferred.

Skills and Work Approach

The position requires strong leadership, organization, clinical judgement, critical thinking and interpersonal skills. Knowledge of clinical governance, infection prevention, patient safety, quality indicators and standards such as JCI, DHA, Planetree and ANCC-NCPD is important. The manager should be computer literate, service-oriented and effective at leading multidisciplinary teams and continuous improvement.