Lead Registered Nurse Jobs
Lead Registered Nurse jobs are open across hospitals, long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and health systems, at every level from staff nurse with charge experience to senior clinical leadership, with specializations in med-surg, ICU, and perioperative care. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Overview
Seeking an experienced, motivated Registered Nurse (RN) Team Lead for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab to provide clinical leadership, coordinate daily operations, and support high-quality, patient-centered care. This individual will serve as a clinical resource for nursing staff while promoting efficiency, teamwork, patient safety, and excellent clinical outcomes.
Shift: Variable Day Shift Hours with On-Call Rotation
Schedule: 36 hours per week
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strong problem-solving abilities in complex situations.
- Ability to work within the budget and productivity targets to meet organizational objectives. Participates and supports the plans in place for selection of staff, evaluation of staff, orientation of new staff, continued education and development of staff, competency evaluation of staff, appropriate scheduling of staff based on patient acuity.
- Supports and partners with the Manager/Clinical Leader and ensures the knowledge, skills, and behaviors of staff are consistent and in alignment with the goals of the unit.
- Outstanding relationship building skills.
- Must possess strong physician relationship skills.
- Patient focused with a strong commitment to delivering the highest levels of quality, safety, and customer service. Is accountable for achievement of patient satisfaction (PressGaney and HCAHPS) action plans to achieve targets for their areas of responsibility.
- Supports process improvement in operations, quality, and organizational change identified for their areas.
- Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements and standards for their areas of responsibility.
- Able to communicate effectively and persuasively with individuals and groups through compassion, creativity, and consistent visibility.
- Participates in hospital and department committees.
- Demonstrated ability in developing and mentoring staff and colleagues.
- Leads by example, consistently demonstrating highly professional behavior. Demonstrates personal and professional accountability and holds others to the same.
- Exhibits a passion for nursing
- Serves as a role model and coach for Critical Moments of Service Standards and service recovery.
- Participates in department or unit performance improvement activities, may include shared governance.
- Utilizes critical thinking in regards to patient safety and patient experience and appropriately escalates to the appropriate chain of command.
- Supports the professional nurse continuum and nursing clinical ladder for RNs (CARE)
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an accredited nursing program. BSN or upon hire BSN completion agreement for enrollment in an accredited BSN Completion Program May require specific years of applicable experience to qualify (per department guidelines). If hired prior to 1-1-14 in Winnebago County and prior to 9-1-14 in Rock, Walworth and McHenry Counties an ADN only is required.
CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE
Licensed as an RN in the state of practice
Approved CPR certification required within 90 days (Other certification per unit requirements: ACLS, PALS, PEARS, NRP)
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Excellent interpersonal/communication and conflict resolution skills. Genuine concern for people. Strong verbal communication skills.
Adept listener with the ability to interpret concerns.
May include color blind test (per department guidelines)
LEVEL OF SUPERVISION
Performs job duties with general supervision.
SUPERVISES
Regularly supervises and manages others in the performance of their positions.
PAY RANGE:
$37.29 - $59.67Mercyhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Mercyhealth offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package including:
Medical, Dental, Vision
Life & Disability Insurance
FSA/HSA Options
Generous, accruing paid time off
Paid Parental and caregiver leave
Career advancement and educational opportunities
Tuition and certification reimbursement
Certification Reimbursement
Well-being Programs
Employee Discounts
On-Demand Pay
Financial Education
Annual recognition/awards events
Partner appreciation days
Family entertainment/attractions discount
Community service/improvement opportunities
Click here for more details regarding Mercyhealth Careers Benefit Information.
At Mercyhealth, we don’t simply hire people, we empower employee-partners who are passionate about making lives better. As an integrated health system, we deliver exceptional, coordinated across seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty clinics, and a team of over 7,500 professionals serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Mercyhealth has been nationally recognized for our commitment to our people and culture, including:
#1 in the nation on AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50
One of Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers
A Top 50 Company and Top 10 Nonprofit for Executive Women
Overview
Seeking an experienced, motivated Registered Nurse (RN) Team Lead for the Cardiac Catheterization Lab to provide clinical leadership, coordinate daily operations, and support high-quality, patient-centered care. This individual will serve as a clinical resource for nursing staff while promoting efficiency, teamwork, patient safety, and excellent clinical outcomes.
Shift: Variable Day Shift Hours with On-Call Rotation
Schedule: 36 hours per week
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Strong problem-solving abilities in complex situations.
- Ability to work within the budget and productivity targets to meet organizational objectives. Participates and supports the plans in place for selection of staff, evaluation of staff, orientation of new staff, continued education and development of staff, competency evaluation of staff, appropriate scheduling of staff based on patient acuity.
- Supports and partners with the Manager/Clinical Leader and ensures the knowledge, skills, and behaviors of staff are consistent and in alignment with the goals of the unit.
- Outstanding relationship building skills.
- Must possess strong physician relationship skills.
- Patient focused with a strong commitment to delivering the highest levels of quality, safety, and customer service. Is accountable for achievement of patient satisfaction (PressGaney and HCAHPS) action plans to achieve targets for their areas of responsibility.
- Supports process improvement in operations, quality, and organizational change identified for their areas.
- Knowledge of accreditation and certification requirements and standards for their areas of responsibility.
- Able to communicate effectively and persuasively with individuals and groups through compassion, creativity, and consistent visibility.
- Participates in hospital and department committees.
- Demonstrated ability in developing and mentoring staff and colleagues.
- Leads by example, consistently demonstrating highly professional behavior. Demonstrates personal and professional accountability and holds others to the same.
- Exhibits a passion for nursing
- Serves as a role model and coach for Critical Moments of Service Standards and service recovery.
- Participates in department or unit performance improvement activities, may include shared governance.
- Utilizes critical thinking in regards to patient safety and patient experience and appropriately escalates to the appropriate chain of command.
- Supports the professional nurse continuum and nursing clinical ladder for RNs (CARE)
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE
Graduate of an accredited nursing program. BSN or upon hire BSN completion agreement for enrollment in an accredited BSN Completion Program May require specific years of applicable experience to qualify (per department guidelines). If hired prior to 1-1-14 in Winnebago County and prior to 9-1-14 in Rock, Walworth and McHenry Counties an ADN only is required.
CERTIFICATION/LICENSURE
Licensed as an RN in the state of practice
Approved CPR certification required within 90 days (Other certification per unit requirements: ACLS, PALS, PEARS, NRP)
OTHER SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Excellent interpersonal/communication and conflict resolution skills. Genuine concern for people. Strong verbal communication skills.
Adept listener with the ability to interpret concerns.
May include color blind test (per department guidelines)
LEVEL OF SUPERVISION
Performs job duties with general supervision.
SUPERVISES
Regularly supervises and manages others in the performance of their positions.
PAY RANGE:
$37.29 - $59.67Mercyhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.
Mercyhealth offers competitive pay and a comprehensive benefits package including:
Medical, Dental, Vision
Life & Disability Insurance
FSA/HSA Options
Generous, accruing paid time off
Paid Parental and caregiver leave
Career advancement and educational opportunities
Tuition and certification reimbursement
Certification Reimbursement
Well-being Programs
Employee Discounts
On-Demand Pay
Financial Education
Annual recognition/awards events
Partner appreciation days
Family entertainment/attractions discount
Community service/improvement opportunities
Click here for more details regarding Mercyhealth Careers Benefit Information.
At Mercyhealth, we don’t simply hire people, we empower employee-partners who are passionate about making lives better. As an integrated health system, we deliver exceptional, coordinated across seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty clinics, and a team of over 7,500 professionals serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.
Mercyhealth has been nationally recognized for our commitment to our people and culture, including:
#1 in the nation on AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50
One of Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers
A Top 50 Company and Top 10 Nonprofit for Executive Women
Lead Registered Nurse Jobs by Experience Level
See All 504+ Lead Registered Nurse Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Registered Nurse JobsLead Registered Nurse Job Market
Who's Hiring
- Ascension44
- Advocate Aurora Health18
- Adventist Health16
- Johns Hopkins Health System14
- 2nd Family13
Top Industries Hiring
- Healthcare & Medical Services32
- Science & Research2
- Education1
- Transportation & Logistics1
- Non-Profit & Social Services1
What Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in lead registered nurse jobs.
- Active RN licensure in the state of employment with no restrictions
- Minimum three to five years of clinical nursing experience in the relevant specialty
- Demonstrated charge nurse or supervisory experience in an acute care or clinical setting
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) or enrollment in an accredited BSN program
- BLS certification required, with ACLS or specialty-specific certifications often preferred
- Proficiency with electronic health record systems used in inpatient or outpatient settings
Tips for Your Lead Registered Nurse Job Search
Tailor your resume to unit metrics
Lead RN resumes that land interviews name the unit size you managed, patient-to-nurse ratios you oversaw, and any quality improvement outcomes you drove. Generic nursing resumes get screened out fast when hiring managers are looking for supervisory evidence.
Highlight your charge nurse history
If you've held charge nurse duties without the formal title, call that out explicitly in a dedicated experience line. Hiring teams for lead roles need to see that you've run a floor, coordinated staff assignments, and handled escalations, even if your badge said something else.
Apply early to roles that fit
Migrate Mate lists lead registered nurse openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.
Filter openings by specialty and setting
Lead RN roles in an emergency department and a skilled nursing facility require different clinical backgrounds and leadership styles. Search by care setting and unit type, not just job title, so you're applying to roles where your specific clinical experience is actually relevant.
Prepare for scenario-based interview questions
Lead RN interviews lean heavily on situational prompts: how you handled a staff conflict, managed a patient deterioration while short-staffed, or enforced a policy your team resisted. Walk through your actual decisions and outcomes, not what you would do hypothetically.
Negotiate your on-call and scheduling terms
Lead RN offers often include on-call expectations that aren't fully detailed in the posting. Before accepting, ask specifically about weekend rotation frequency, mandatory overtime policies, and how float coverage is handled so there are no surprises after your first week.
Lead Registered Nurse Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies are hiring the most lead registered nurses?
The most active employers for lead registered nurses right now are Ascension, Advocate Aurora Health, and Adventist Health, and the most openings are in California, Florida, and Texas, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Health systems and regional hospital networks tend to post the highest volume of lead RN openings consistently.
How many lead registered nurse jobs are remote?
About 34% of lead registered nurse openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting the hands-on clinical nature of most lead RN roles. The sub-areas most likely to offer remote or hybrid arrangements include care management, utilization review, and telephonic triage coordination positions.
How do you become a lead registered nurse?
Start by earning your RN licensure and building at least several years of direct clinical experience in your target specialty. Take on charge nurse shifts to develop floor leadership experience, then pursue a BSN if you don't already hold one. Specialty certifications like CCRN or CEN strengthen your candidacy, and many facilities expect demonstrated performance in mentoring new staff before promoting into a formal lead role.
Can you get hired as a lead registered nurse without prior leadership experience?
It's possible, but you'll need to reframe your clinical history to surface any informal leadership you've performed. Precepting new nurses, serving as a resource RN, or regularly taking charge assignments all count as leadership evidence even without a formal title. Some smaller facilities and long-term care settings hire strong bedside nurses into lead roles and provide on-the-job supervisory training, so targeting those settings can help you make the transition.
What does the lead registered nurse interview process look like?
Most lead RN interviews include an initial phone screen with HR, followed by a panel interview with the nurse manager and sometimes charge nurses or clinical educators. Expect behavioral questions about conflict resolution, staffing decisions, and quality improvement situations. Some facilities add a brief skills or scenario assessment. Reference checks with former supervisors are standard, and some systems require a background check and drug screening before an offer is extended.
Where can I find and apply to lead registered nurse jobs?
You can find and apply to lead registered nurse jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States. Search for roles that match your specialty and care setting, then apply directly to each listing that fits your background and experience level.
See All 504+ Lead Registered Nurse Jobs
Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Lead Registered Nurse Jobs