Assistant Nurse Manager – Surgical Intensive Care Unit; SICU

Assistant Nurse Manager – Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU)

Location: Howard University Hospital – Washington, DC
Department: Nursing – Surgical ICU

The Assistant Nurse Manager (ANM) – Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is a dedicated Night Shift Leadership role supporting clinical and operational oversight within a high-acuity critical care environment. This role partners with the Nurse Manager to ensure the safe and effective delivery of patient-centered care for critically ill surgical patients requiring advanced monitoring and intervention.

As the primary nursing leadership presence during night operations, the ANM supports complex post-operative and critically ill patient care, interdisciplinary collaboration, and adherence to evidence-based critical care standards. This role ensures staffing optimization, regulatory compliance, and operational stability within the Surgical ICU.

In the absence of the Nurse Manager, the ANM serves in a leadership capacity to ensure continuity of care, staff accountability, and execution of safe and effective patient-centered care.

• Provide onsite night shift leadership and oversight for Surgical ICU operations.
• Align staffing and assignments to patient acuity, surgical volume, and critical care demands.
• Supervise, coach, and mentor nursing staff; assist with performance evaluations and improvement plans.
• Support recruitment, interviewing, and onboarding of critical care nursing staff.
• Ensure compliance with regulatory standards and critical care practice guidelines.
• Promote evidence-based critical care nursing practice.
• Support quality initiatives related to sepsis management, infection prevention, ventilator-associated events, central line safety, and patient outcomes.
• Collaborate with intensivists, surgeons, anesthesia providers, respiratory therapy, pharmacy, and ancillary teams.
• Address operational or clinical issues that may impact the safe delivery of critical care in real time.
• Report and escalation significant events, near misses, adverse events, and patient/family concerns in a timely manner.

• Baccalaureate Degree in Nursing preferred; must obtain BSN within three (3) years of assuming ANM position if not already obtained.
• Current, active Registered Nurse (RN) license in the District of Columbia.
• Minimum two (2) years clinical experience in Critical Care, Surgical ICU, or related high-acuity specialty preferred.
• Experience managing ventilators, invasive hemodynamic monitoring, vasoactive infusions, and post-operative surgical patients strongly preferred.
• Minimum one (1) year supervisory or leadership experience required.
• Current BLS certification required.
• Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification required.
• National specialty certification (e.g., CCRN or equivalent critical care certification) within one (1) year of hire.
• Strong knowledge of critical care protocols, rapid response systems, and patient safety standards.
• Demonstrated leadership, emotional intelligence, and conflict resolution skills.

With over 150 years of caring for our community in Washington, DC, Howard University Hospital is a nationally recognized academic medical center providing advanced surgical and critical care services. The Surgical Intensive Care Unit delivers high-acuity care to post-operative and critically ill patients requiring complex monitoring and life-sustaining interventions.

As the nation’s only teaching hospital located on the campus of a Historically Black University, we are committed to clinical excellence, health equity, and training the next generation of healthcare leaders.

• Competitive compensation
• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
• Retirement savings plan
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Tuition reimbursement and professional development support
• Supportive leadership culture rooted in Just Culture principles

Pay Range: $84,680 – $135,488 annually
FLSA Status: Exempt
Schedule: Night Shift – 7:00 PM to 5:30 AM; 10-hour shifts, Monday through Friday. One weekend per month required.

Howard University Hospital promotes a Just Culture enviro…