POSITION DESCRIPTION

Position Title: Nurse Unit Manager – Orthopaedic ward

Position Code:

Department: Nursing

Reporting To: Deputy Director of Clinical Services

Terms: Permanent, Full time

Remuneration: As per Enterprise Agreement

1. POSITION SUMMARY

The Nurse Unit Manager (NUM), Orthopaedic Ward, is responsible for the provision of
efficient and effective operating services that achieve optimal patient outcomes. They
ensure the delivery of high-quality nursing care in accordance with legislative requirements
and professional guidelines. The NUM manages the resources and staff of the specialties
within their discipline mix. They will provide management, mentorship, and support in the
achievement of excellence in nursing practice. The NUM will promote a culture that
embraces best practice and identifies, evaluates, and incorporates appropriate emerging
trends in the practice of the clinical disciplines within their unit.

2. KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Strategic and Operational Planning & Performance:

- Oversea the operational and clinical functioning of the unit
- Ensures appropriate staffing to support optimal clinical care for the orthopaedic ward
- Manage staff leave, overtime and other allowances
- Ensure ward staffing, skill mix and clinical practice guidelines meets the needs of the

patients in the orthopaedic ward.

- Collaborate with other health professionals within Wyvern Private Hospital in developing,

monitoring, and reporting clinical speciality key performance indicators.

- Participate in providing business plan proposals for the consideration of new projects

and/or new resources

- Promote and encourage the active participation of patients and consumers in service

planning and development.
- Coordinate clinical audits in line with the organisational audit program
- Liaises with the rehabilitation ward team to ensure a smooth transition of care

for patients accessing rehabilitation at Wyvern post the acute phase from the
orthopaedic ward.

Leadership and Management:

- Provide professional leadership and uphold the values of Wyvern Health
- Provide effective, efficient coordination of services for patients throughout the

hospital across the continuum of care

- Work collaboratively with the Clinical Nurse Educator to ensure that staff

education and training needs are achieved

- Provide leadership to all staff in the nursing team to support their professional

growth, development, and integration into the multi-disciplinary care team
- Provide leadership in the development and evaluation of models of care for

patients requiring surgical and/or interventional procedures




- Participate in relevant leadership committees and forums throughout the

hospital representing the interests of the nursing services and providing
feedback to staff. Develop and facilitate strategies to build and maintain a
cohesive clinical team to support collaborative, patient focused care

Information Technology:

- Work with staff to advance the use of information technology in clinical practice.
- Provide mentorship to nursing staff to support their professional development

with information technology programs available within the organisation

- Use information technology effectively to monitor ongoing resource utilisation

Clinical Practice:

- Manage the clinical processes within the service to achieve and maintain

optimal levels of efficiency in clinical practice
- Ensure that nursing practice is compliant with the NSW Ministry of Health and

Wyvern Private Hospital policies and procedures and best practice guidelines
- Ensure clinical care is provided in consultation with the patient and carer as

appropriate, and meets the patients’ needs and requirements
- Provide timely intervention and problem solving

- Remain informed of current relevant nursing research
- Promote an environment of evidence based clinical nursing care
- Ensure a culture of patient advocacy in the provision of care

Quality Management:

- Promote and coordinate quality improvement initiatives to maintain a culture of

continuous improvement
- Actively participate in quality improvement and evidence-based research

projects at ward level and within the wider hospital environment
- Manage critical incidents
- Promote quality activities and coordinate quality improvement projects within the

department

- Implement the recommendations secondary to investigations/RCA’s

Human Resource Management:

- Manage, review and develop staff via the implementation of performance

reviews to meet individual needs and achieve organisational goals
- Recruit nursing staff and implement strategies to retain and promote nursing

staff
- Support performance management systems and provide ongoing feedback to

staff on performance outcomes

- Lead the day-to-day management and monitoring of workforce allocation and

roster development within the unit/department




- Facilitate the attendance of staff in mandatory training and qualified

development activities
- Support staff to comply with the requirement to report all clinical incidents

through Wyvern Private Hospital Incident Management System
- Address performance management issues in a timely, respectful, and confidential

manner
- Demonstrate a thorough understanding of the industrial award as it applies to

staff entitlements, working conditions and rosters
- Instigate appropriate grievance and discipline procedure as necessary in

liaison with the Director of Clinical Services
- Provide counselling and support to staff within the service as required and

direct them to relevant support services

Work Health and Safety:

- Comply with relevant Workplace Health & Safety regulations

3. KEY STAKEHOLDERS/CONTACTS

- Deputy Director of Clinical Services
- Departmental clinical staff

- Visiting Medical Offices
- Patients and Carers

- Wyvern Private Hospital Executive Team
- Allied Health Team

- Clinical Governance Department

4. SKILLS, ATTRIBUTES & COMPETENCIES

4.1 Essential

- Current registration with Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency as a

Registered Nurse, div 1 (AHPRA)

- 3-5 years’ experience in a senior nursing or management position

- Tertiary management qualifications relevant to the position, or working toward

- Proven high level communication, interpersonal and organisational skills

4.2 Desirable

- Previous Management experience
- Ability to adopt a strategic overview whilst managing complex, challenging and

demanding daily operational issues

- Post graduate studies in Orthopaedics

5. THE VALUES OF WYVERN HEALTH

The foundation stone of Wyvern Health is our mission: Care without Compromise. This
foundation informs our approach to every aspect of Wyvern Private Hospital, including how
we care for our patients, our staff, the community, and the natural environment. Care without
Compromise is enshrined in the need for us to ‘walk in another’s shoes’; to take the time to
learn about others; and to always strive to give that little bit more regardless of our role or
position. It is supported by our values of Teamwork, Integrity, Accountability and Respect.
These values underpin all our activities without question and ensure a confidence and trust
in everything we do. It creates an environment that allows our staff to grow both
professionally and within themselves knowing that their growth is key to our success.

Name of Authorising Person: Anne Scott

Role Authority: Director of Clinical Services

Date Authorised: 14 July 2025

Date Reviewed: 14 July 2025

Date Published:

📌 NUM: Orthopaedic Ward (Terrey Hills)
🏢 Wyvern Private Hospital
📍 Terrey Hills