Looking to hire a Nurse Manager? Use this guide and copy-paste template to publish a high-converting job ad on Voceer. If you’re a candidate, you’ll find a clear overview of the role, day-to-day duties, and career path.
A Nurse Manager (also called Ward Manager, Clinical Nurse Manager, or Unit Manager) leads a nursing team within a hospital ward, clinic, or care service. They combine clinical expertise with people leadership, ensuring safe, evidence-based care, smooth staffing, and continuous improvement across the unit.
They typically own:
Patient safety, quality, and compliance
Rotas, staffing levels, and skill-mix
Coaching, appraisals, clinical supervision, and wellbeing
Budgets for supplies and overtime
Incident reviews, audits, and action plans
Communication between nursing, medical, and non-clinical teams
Family communication and escalation management
Lead and support a team of registered nurses, HCAs, and bank/agency staff
Oversee daily operations: handovers, bed/room management, admissions and discharges
Maintain safe staffing and skill mix, create rota patterns, approve leave, and arrange cover
Ensure adherence to care standards, infection prevention, and safeguarding policies
Conduct clinical audits, medication checks, and risk assessments; act on findings
Mentor, develop, and appraise staff; identify training needs and competencies
Manage incidents/complaints, conduct RCAs, and deliver corrective actions
Track KPIs: falls, pressure injuries, medication errors, readmissions, FFT, patient experience
Collaborate with MDT and external partners to coordinate complex discharges
Manage stock, equipment, and unit budget; raise purchase orders as required
Contribute to service improvement and change projects (e.g., digital documentation)
Maintain accurate records and prepare reports for governance meetings
Current clinical competence in the specialty (medical/surgical, ED, ICU, theatres, community, etc.)
People leadership, coaching, and difficult-conversation skills
Calm decision-making under pressure; effective prioritisation
Strong written/verbal communication and MDT collaboration
Data-literate: using audits, dashboards, and KPIs to drive improvement
Sound knowledge of safeguarding, infection prevention, and medication safety
Rota planning and workforce management (e.g., e-rostering)
Compassionate, patient-centred approach; role-model for clinical standards
Registered Nurse (active registration)
Typically 3–5+ years’ post-registration experience, including charge/shift leadership
Evidence of leadership training or a management qualification is desirable
Specialty courses (e.g., critical care, theatres, community) are advantageous
Up-to-date life-support certifications and mandatory training
UK (NHS): commonly Band 7–8a depending on setting and scope.
Private/independent sector: competitive salaries with enhancements, pension, and bonuses.
US: varies by state and system; include local range and differentials (nights/weekends).
Tip: Advertise base pay plus enhancements, on-call, relocation, and development funding—ads with transparent pay typically convert better on Voceer.
Full-time with rostered shifts; may include nights/weekends or on-call depending on unit
Combination of clinical presence on the floor and protected managerial time
Fast-paced, with frequent coordination and escalation handling
Matron/Assistant Director of Nursing → Head of Nursing → Director/Chief Nurse
Horizontal moves across specialties (e.g., theatres to ICU) to broaden leadership profile
Patient safety: falls, pressure injuries, medication errors, infection rates
Patient experience: complaints, compliments, FFT/NPS
Workforce: fill rate, sickness, turnover, appraisal/compliance completion
Operational: length of stay, readmissions, delays to discharge
Quality improvement project milestones and audit outcomes
Job Title: Nurse Manager (Unit/Ward Manager)
Location: [Hospital/Clinic], [City]
Contract: [Full-time | Part-time], [Permanent/Fixed Term]
Salary: [£ Band / Range + enhancements]
Closing Date: [dd/mm/yyyy]
About Us
[2–3 lines on organisation, specialty, values, CQC/Joint Commission status, growth.]
The Role
We’re seeking an experienced Nurse Manager to lead our [specialty/unit]. You’ll combine clinical expertise with people leadership to deliver safe, high-quality, patient-centred care and a positive workplace culture.
Key Responsibilities
Lead and develop a high-performing nursing team across [X] beds/rooms
Coordinate daily operations: handovers, admissions/discharges, bed management
Maintain safe staffing and skill mix; build and manage rotas and annual leave
Uphold clinical standards, infection prevention, and safeguarding practices
Use audits, incidents, and KPIs to drive continuous improvement
Manage complaints, concerns, and family communications with compassion
Work closely with the MDT to plan and deliver complex care and discharges
Manage budgets for supplies and overtime; ensure effective stock control
Support change projects (digital systems, pathways, new models of care)
About You
Registered Nurse with [specialty] experience and recent leadership exposure
Confident people manager with coaching and performance management skills
Strong communicator, organised, and calm under pressure
Proficient with clinical governance, audit, and service improvement
Comfortable with e-rostering and basic data analysis/dashboards
Qualifications
Active [country] nursing registration
[X]+ years post-registration; prior charge/shift-lead essential
Leadership/management training (or willingness to undertake)
[Any essential specialty course/certificate]
Benefits
[Pension | private healthcare | CPD funding | study days | relocation | EAP]
[Paid enhancements | parking | childcare vouchers | overtime policy]
Shift Pattern
[e.g., 37.5 hours, internal rotation, occasional on-call]
How to Apply
Apply via Voceer with your CV and a brief statement outlining your leadership achievements and service-improvement experience.
Equal Opportunities & Safeguarding
We welcome applications from all backgrounds and are committed to safeguarding; offers are subject to [right-to-work checks/DBS or state equivalents].
“Tell us about a time you turned around a struggling unit metric (e.g., falls or infection). What actions moved the needle?”
“How do you balance clinical presence with managerial workload?”
“Describe a difficult staffing week. How did you protect patient safety?”
“What’s your approach to coaching underperformance?”
“Which KPIs matter most in our specialty and why?”
Be explicit on shift pattern (nights/weekends/on-call)
List enhancement rates and any relocation/visa support
Include team size/bed numbers and protected management time
Add a short ‘Why join us’ bullet list and CPD/study support
Use clear headings and short bullets for mobile readers
Is a Nurse Manager still clinical?
Yes—most roles require regular clinical presence while holding responsibility for governance and operations.
What band/seniority is a Nurse Manager?
Often NHS Band 7–8a (UK). In other systems, it’s equivalent to Unit/Department Manager.
Do I need a master’s degree?
Not always, but leadership or management qualifications strengthen applications.