Registered Nurse 

Duke University Hospital – Pulmonary Stepdown/Intermediate Care Unit

Located in Duke North, 7th Floor (Unit 7800)

Duke University Health System seeks to hire an experienced or new grad Registered Nurse who will embrace our mission of Advancing Health Together.

The Pulmonary Medicine Stepdown/Intermediate Care (Unit 7800) is comprised of 28 beds, including 6 ventilator beds. Our patient population includes Advanced Lung Diseases (ALS), Pulmonary Hypertension, Cystic Fibrosis, Pre and Post Lung Transplant, Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis as well as a variety of medical diseases involving all the body systems.

Department Highlights: 

• Low Nurse-to-Patient ratios, 1: 3-4


• We are the only Adult Stepdown Unit at Duke University Hospital caring for ventilator patients.


• Our unique Coaching Program supports new grads in their first year of learning! We are a high-functioning team with positive attitudes and a focus on Excellence and Compassionate Care.


• This unit offers Social Committees with Game Nights and Resiliency Monthly Meetings where you will be paid to attend, will go over any questions or concerns regarding the unit, and food and beverage is available!  


• High retention on the unit and historically we have produced Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse III's and IV's, and internal transfers to the ICU. 

Work Schedule 

• You will work three (3) 12-hour shifts; 36 hours per week (full-time).


• ROTATING (Day and Night Shifts) 

What you will do:

As a Clinical Nurse in Duke University Health System, you will plan and provide professional nursing care for patients in accordance with the medical and nursing plans of care and established policies and procedures. Provide nursing services to patients and families in accordance with the scope of the RN as defined by the North Carolina Board of Nursing.

• Plan, provide and document professional nursing care, utilizing the nursing process, in accordance with physician orders and established policies and procedures under the supervision of the team leader or charge nurse.


• Delegate tasks and supervise the activities of other licensed and unlicensed care providers.


• Assist other healthcare personnel in the delivery of patient care.


• Participate in maintaining the environment of care including equipment and material resources. Prioritize work organization and identify resources available to assist in completing components of care in a timely manner.


• Participate in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, identifying learning needs and seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings.


• Support the development of other staff and formal learners.


• Participate in the identification of clinical or operational performance improvement opportunities and assist in performance improvement activities.

What you can expect:

• Multitask in myriad ways – document assessments, plan of care, interventions, evaluation and re-evaluation of patient status, access nursing needs of acute and chronically ill patients, independently seek out resources and work collaboratively.


• Educate patients and families in accordance with the nursing plan of care.


• Relationship management with patients, families, visitors, healthcare team, physicians, administrators, leadership and others.

What we’ll provide:

• Paid Training


• New Graduate Nurses: 8 weeks of paid orientation and monthly nurse residency classes and the completion of a unit-focused project.


• Opportunities for a Lifetime. Duke University Health System is committed to providing robust learning and development from Office of Continuing Education.


• Clinical Ladder Advancement


• Tuition Assistance and Nurse Loan Forgiveness


• Relocation Grant for Eligible RNs


• Nursing Specialty Certification Bonus  


• Employee Referral Bonus


• Performance Increases


• Comprehensive Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, Employee Pension plan and much more.

What you will need:

• Graduation from an accredited Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (or higher) OR Associate's Degree in Nursing OR Nursing Diploma program.

***All registered nurses without a Bachelor's degree in Nursing (or higher) will be required to enroll in an appropriate BSN program within two years of their start date and to complete the program within seven years of their start date.

Licensure and Certification Required:

• Current registration with North Carolina State Board of Nursing as a registered professional nurse OR current compact RN licensure to practice in the state of North Carolina required. Nurses with a multi state compact license must obtain NC state licensure within the first 90 days of employment.


• BLS Certification

Experience: 

• No experience required. 


• All CNIs will be enrolled in and must complete the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 12 months of hire.


• CNIs are required to meet criteria set forth by the DUHS Nurse Residency Program within 18 months of hire to be promoted to CNII.

Duke aspires to create a community built on collaboration, innovation, creativity, and belonging. Our collective success depends on the robust exchange of ideas—an exchange that is best when the rich diversity of our perspectives, backgrounds, and experiences flourishes. To achieve this exchange, it is essential that all members of the community feel secure and welcome, that the contributions of all individuals are respected, and that all voices are heard. All members of our community have a responsibility to uphold these values.