Job Overview

Employment Type:

Full time

Shift:

Day Shift

Description:

At MercyOne, health care is more than just a doctor’s visit or a place to go when you’re in need of medical attention. Our Mission is based on improving the health of our communities – that means not only when you are sick but keeping you well.
MercyOne Dubuque is the leading hospital in the tri-states, offering the only comprehensive cardiology center and Level II regional neonatal intensive care unit in the area as well as the newly constructed MercyOne Dubuque Cancer Center. Other services include a trauma center, a CARF-accredited inpatient rehabilitation unit, orthopedics, retail pharmacies, palliative care and a wide range of outpatient and community services. MercyOne operates two hospital-based skilled nursing units and a 40-bed nursing home.
In recognition of the strength of its nursing service and the overall quality of patient care, MercyOne Dubuque has been designated a Magnet hospital four consecutive times – the nation’s most prestigious award for nursing excellence.

POSITION PURPOSE 

The Care Manager RN supports safe, high‑quality patient care by coordinating clinical and discharge planning activities across the continuum. This role integrates clinical expertise, patient advocacy, and collaboration with providers and interdisciplinary teams to ensure timely progression of care, optimize length of stay, and support transitions consistent with regulatory, payer, and organizational standards. 

 

FUNCTIONAL ROLE 

RN II – independent: Practice is guided by nursing process & policy / procedure / standards & participation in professional / shared governance; Independently & safely cares for patients common to assigned area or technical/ operational services. Acts as a resource for others & may serve in intermittent expanded roles. 

 

TRINITY HEALTH ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Our Trinity Health Culture: Knows, understands, incorporates & demonstrates our Trinity Health Mission, Values, Vision, Actions & Promise in behaviors, practices & decisions. 

• Professional Nursing Practice: Acts independently & appropriately within license, scope of knowledge & experience in practice area; Continues to evolve with best evidence discoveries; Provides leadership & retains accountability for delegation, choices, decisions & outcomes; Collaborates with key stakeholders & contributes to quality & improvement practices & outcomes; Exhibits willingness to take on new & additional responsibilities; Embraces new ideas & cultural differences while managing competing priorities. 

• Professional Nursing Process (ANA): Knows, understands, incorporates & demonstrates (document, teach, coordinate, advocate) standard elements of professional practice: Assess, Diagnose, Outcomes Identification / Solutions, Plan, Implement, Evaluate. 

• Professional Development: Participates in own professional development by maintaining required competencies, licenses & certifications, identifying learning needs & seeking appropriate assistance or educational offerings; Supports the learning & development of others (e.g., staff, formal learners, patients, families, community). 

• Compassion, Communication & Stewardship: Incorporates caring process (Caritas), advocacy & appropriate resource utilization as an essential component of nursing practice through concrete acts, interpersonal relationships & effective & respectful written, verbal & nonverbal communications. 

• Environment of Care: Practices in an environmentally safe, professional manner; monitors & initiates corrections or evidence-based practices, including those for equipment & material resources; Promotes optimum physical & psychological behaviors; Influences effective, judicious & financially responsible use of resources. 

• Maintains a Working Knowledge of applicable federal, state & local laws / regulations, Trinity Health Integrity & Compliance Program & Code of Conduct, as well as other policies, procedures & guidelines in order to ensure adherence in a manner that reflects honest, ethical & professional behavior & safe work practices. 

 

MERCY ONE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS 

• Conduct comprehensive assessments to identify medical, psychosocial, and discharge needs upon admission and throughout the stay. 

• Collaborate with physicians and the care team to develop, implement, and modify individualized care plans. 

• Lead daily progression-of-care rounds to identify barriers and ensure timely movement through the care continuum. 

• Coordinate discharge planning, including patient/family education, post-acute placement, home services, and follow-up appointments. 

• Communicate clinical information to payers as needed and collaborate with Utilization Review on authorization and continued stay needs. 

• Identify patients with complex needs and engage Social Work for psychosocial, behavioral health, guardianship, or community resource support. 

• Monitor length of stay, avoidable delays, readmission risks, and patient flows; escalate barriers as appropriate. 

• Facilitate safe and appropriate transitions between care settings, ensuring handoffs are accurate and timely. 

• Promote patient advocacy by ensuring understanding of plan of care, goals, and discharge expectations. 

• Maintain documentation in accordance with regulatory, payer, and organizational requirements. 

• Participate in performance improvement, readmission reduction, and throughput initiatives. 

• Serve as a clinical resource to patients, families, and the interdisciplinary team on care transitions and community options. 

• Onboards, orients, and mentors new staff. 

• Performs all other duties as assigned. 

 

When Operating in Patient Logistics:  

• Provides support to Patient Logistics RNs and clinical partners on level-of-care appropriateness, medical necessity and continued stay criteria, and applicable regulatory and payer requirements. 

• Provides advanced case management support for complex or high-risk transfer cases, including early identification of discharge barriers for patients transferring from outside facilities. 

• Evaluates escalated and complex cases that fall outside established criteria and delivers clinical consultation to identify documentation gaps, develop effective escalation strategies, and facilitate coordination with physician advisors, Acute Care Management leadership, and payers. Evaluates escalated and complex cases that fall outside established criteria and delivers clinical consultation to identify documentation gaps, develop effective escalation strategies, and facilitate coordination with physician advisors, Acute Care Management leadership, and payers. 

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing required. 

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) is preferred. 

• Current Iowa RN license

• Proof of completion of Mandatory Reporter – Child and/or Dependent Adult Abuse training within three (3) months of hire. Colleagues employed and working solely in facilities located in Illinois are exempt from this requirement in accordance with applicable state requirements. 

• Three (3) years of nursing or care coordination experience required.  

Colleagues of MercyOne Health System enjoy competitive compensation with a full benefits package and opportunity for growth throughout the system!

 

Visit MercyOne Careers to learn more about the benefits, culture, and career development opportunities available to you at MercyOne Health System circle of care.

 

Want to learn more about MercyOne Dubuque? Click here: Find a Location Dubuque, Iowa (IA), MercyOne Dubuque

Dubuque

Dubuque, located right on the Mississippi river, is known for its historic charm and has a cost of living approximately 12% below the U.S. average. The Dubuque Community School District is highly regarded, and the city offers private schools plus colleges like Loras College and Clarke University. Families enjoy cultural attractions such as the National Mississippi River Museum, arts festivals and an abundance of parks and trails.

As the region’s leading hospital, MercyOne Dubuque Medical Center offers the only Level II NICU and the most comprehensive cardiology center in the tri‑state area. It holds Magnet designation (fifth consecutive cycle), CMS 5‑star quality rating and national recognition including Fortune/IBM Watson’s 100 Top Hospitals. It’s a Wellmark Blue Distinction Center+ for maternity and earns American Heart Association awards — Stroke Gold Plus, Mission: Lifeline NSTEMI and STEMI Gold. It recently celebrated 100 years of American Heart Association membership.

Our Commitment

Rooted in our Mission and Core Values, we honor the dignity of every person and recognize the unique perspectives, experiences, and talents each colleague brings. By finding common ground and embracing our differences, we grow stronger together and deliver more compassionate, person-centered care. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local law.