Subacute Unit Manager

Department: Nursing
Reports To: Director of Nursing / Assistant Director of Nursing
Employment Type: Full-Time
FLSA Status: Exempt/Non-Exempt, as applicable

Position Summary

The Subacute Unit Manager is responsible for the overall clinical management, coordination, and supervision of nursing services within the facility’s subacute unit. This position provides leadership to the nursing team while ensuring the delivery of safe, compassionate, and high-quality care to residents recovering from acute illness, surgery, injury, or complex medical conditions.

The Unit Manager works collaboratively with physicians, advanced practice providers, rehabilitation services, social services, dietary services, pharmacy, residents, and families to promote positive clinical outcomes and successful transitions of care.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day clinical leadership and oversight of the subacute nursing unit.

• Supervise, support, and evaluate nursing staff, including RNs, LPNs/LVNs, and CNAs.

• Ensure residents receive individualized, evidence-based care consistent with their care plans and physician orders.

• Monitor residents for changes in condition and ensure timely assessment, intervention, and notification of the appropriate healthcare provider.

• Coordinate admissions, readmissions, transfers, discharges, and transitions of care.

• Review and oversee completion of comprehensive assessments, care plans, progress notes, medication administration records, treatment documentation, and other required clinical documentation.

• Participate in interdisciplinary care plan meetings and ensure resident goals and interventions are communicated effectively to the care team.

• Monitor residents with complex medical needs, including those requiring IV therapy, wound care, enteral nutrition, respiratory treatments, cardiac monitoring, or other skilled services, as applicable to the facility.

• Ensure appropriate follow-up of laboratory results, diagnostic testing, physician orders, consultations, and appointments.

• Promote effective communication among nursing staff, providers, residents, families, and interdisciplinary team members.

• Identify changes in resident status and ensure appropriate interventions are initiated promptly.

• Monitor staffing needs and assist with scheduling, assignments, and coverage to maintain safe staffing levels.

• Conduct regular rounds and observe resident care to promote quality, safety, dignity, and compliance with facility policies.

• Provide coaching, mentoring, orientation, and ongoing education to nursing staff.

• Address performance concerns and participate in employee evaluations and disciplinary processes as appropriate.

• Monitor infection prevention and control practices and ensure compliance with facility policies and applicable regulations.

• Participate in quality assurance and performance improvement (QAPI) initiatives.

• Monitor clinical indicators, adverse events, falls, wounds, infections, rehospitalizations, medication-related issues, and other quality measures.

• Assist with investigations, incident reports, risk management activities, and development of corrective action plans.

• Ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations governing skilled nursing facilities.

• Prepare the unit for regulatory surveys and participate in survey-related activities as directed.

• Promote resident rights, privacy, dignity, choice, and person-centered care.

• Respond to resident and family concerns professionally and work toward timely resolution.

• Maintain appropriate confidentiality of resident, employee, and facility information.

• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned by the Director of Nursing or facility leadership.

Qualifications

• Current RN license in good standing in the state of employment.

• Associate Degree in Nursing required; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) preferred.

• Previous nursing leadership or supervisory experience, preferably in a skilled nursing, subacute, rehabilitation, or acute-care setting.

• Strong clinical assessment and critical-thinking skills.

• Knowledge of skilled nursing facility regulations, documentation requirements, infection prevention, and quality standards.

• Experience with electronic medical records (EMR) and clinical documentation systems.

• Excellent communication, organization, delegation, and time-management skills.

• Ability to effectively lead and motivate a multidisciplinary nursing team.

• Ability to work collaboratively with residents, families, physicians, and interdisciplinary team members.

• BLS certification required or obtained within the facility's required timeframe.

Preferred Qualifications

• BSN or higher nursing degree.

• Previous experience managing a subacute or post-acute rehabilitation unit.

• Experience caring for medically complex or high-acuity patients.

• Previous experience with CMS, state survey processes, QAPI, and regulatory compliance.

• Certification in nursing leadership, rehabilitation nursing, gerontological nursing, or another relevant specialty.

Physical and Work Requirements

• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods and perform frequent rounds throughout the unit.

• Ability to assist with or respond to resident care needs as required.

• Ability to communicate effectively with residents, families, staff, and healthcare providers.

• Ability to respond appropriately to emergencies and changing clinical conditions.

• May require flexible scheduling, including weekends, holidays, or on-call responsibilities, based on facility needs.

Key Performance Expectations

The Subacute Unit Manager is expected to maintain a strong focus on:

• Resident safety and quality of care

• Clinical outcomes and reduction of avoidable hospitalizations

• Staff accountability, engagement, and retention

• Accurate and timely clinical documentation

• Regulatory compliance

• Effective interdisciplinary communication

• Infection prevention and control

• Resident and family satisfaction

• Successful admissions, discharges, and transitions of care

• Continuous quality improvement