Intensive Care Unit Nurse Manager

Location: Salem Hospital, 890 Oak Street SE, Salem, Oregon 97301

Department: Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Position Type: Full Time, 40 hours/week, Exempt

Schedule: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday, 24/7 accountability, night/weekend flexing required to round with all shifts

Your role with us

Step into a leadership role where your ICU expertise truly matters. Salem Health is seeking a Nurse Manager for our Intensive Care Unit, leading a talented team that provides high-acuity care to some of Oregon’s sickest patients. In this role, you’ll shape outcomes, mentor future leaders, and drive excellence in a Magnet®-recognized hospital that values collaboration, compassion, and innovation.

At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job—you’ll find a mission. Our ICU is at the heart of patient care for trauma, neuro, cardiac, and medical-surgical critical patients. This is a unique opportunity to join a collaborative leadership team, drive clinical excellence, and make a meaningful impact on both patient outcomes and staff development.

We’re proud of our culture: strong clinical teams, engaged professional governance, lean methodologies, and leaders who assume the best, ask good questions, and drive innovation.

If you are ready to bring your ICU expertise, leadership skills, and passion for excellence to a team that values quality, compassion, and accountability, we’d love to meet you.

What you'll do

As ICU Nurse Manager, you will:

• Lead a team of approximately 140 FTEs including RNs, CNAs, and Critical Care Techs, with four Assistant Nurse Managers as direct reports.
• Oversee day-to-day operations while advancing strategic initiatives focused on patient safety, quality outcomes, and staff engagement.
• Collaborate closely with intensivists, trauma leadership, and critical care executives to align ICU operations with organizational goals.
• Foster strong relationships with physicians, peer leaders, and team members based on the Salem Health philosophy of Care with Respect.
• Drive initiatives in mortality reduction (AMI, heart failure), care quality, and system-level improvements.
• Actively participate in committees and governance, including the intensivist meeting, Critical Care Executive Committee, Professional Governance Council, and trauma program meetings.
• Support Salem Health’s Magnet® designation by mentoring staff, championing professional development, and fostering a culture of accountability and growth.

A day in the life

• Morning check-in with ICU teams, followed by an 8:30 a.m. leadership huddle.
• Twice-weekly financial and operational reporting.
• Dedicated strategic time (rounding, staff engagement, and project work).
• Afternoons focused on staff mentoring, committee participation, audits, and process improvement initiatives.
• Daily opportunities to collaborate with multidisciplinary leaders and physicians.

We seek a leader who is

• ICU-smart and compassionate: balances strong clinical knowledge with empathy and clear communication.
• Skilled at building relationships with a team of highly experienced, driven ICU nurses.
• Financially savvy and comfortable with business operations and resource management.
• Confident in leading through change, holding staff accountable, and fostering a high-performance culture.
• Excited to mentor, grow future leaders, and sustain a learning environment.
• Experienced in conflict management, de-escalation, employee relations, and leading by example.

Required qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN).
• Three years of acute care RN experience.
• Two years of hospital-based ICU experience.
• Two years of progressive management experience.
• Basic Life Support (BLS).
• Registered Nurse: Current unencumbered Oregon RN license or eligible for licensure to practice as a registered nurse in the State of Oregon.

Additional information

• Master's degree in nursing (MSN) preferred.
• American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) Nurse Manager & Leader Certification or American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Nurse Executive Certification will be required within two years of hire and must be kept valid throughout employment.

Total rewards package

Salem Health's comprehensive benefits package prioritizes your mental and physical health, financial stability, family obligations, and professional growth. Click here for details.

Why Salem Health?

Salem Health is a Top Workplace in Oregon, known for fostering a supportive culture where your contributions truly matter. As an award-winning, independent health care system, we serve our region through Salem Hospital, multiple community clinics and West Valley Hospital, ensuring broad access to high-quality care.

We believe in empowering our teams. Through Lean principles, staff help drive innovation and solve real problems. We also invest in your growth with professional development, tuition assistance, and clear career pathways. At Salem Health, you’ll find more than a job, you’ll find purpose, connection, and room to thrive.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other status or condition protected by law.

Salem Health Hospitals and Clinics is committed to providing access, equal opportunity, and reasonable accommodation for applicants. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact my.recruiter@salemhealth.org.