JobsAdvocate Health

Manager Clinical Operations - 3 South

Advocate Health · Chicago, IL

Posted Aug 26, 2026 · We last checked this listing on Sep 20, 2026

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Likely interview questions for this role

Written from this job description, not a generic list. Each one notes what the interviewer is really checking.

Behavioral

Tell me about a time you had to adjust staffing on a med-surg unit at the last minute because of call-offs or a sudden patient census jump. How did you make the call?

whether the candidate can balance patient safety and labor cost under real-time pressure

Give me an example of a performance improvement project you led. What was the problem, what did you change, and how did you know it worked?

ability to run a full PI cycle, not just identify problems

Tell me about a direct report whose performance was slipping. How did you handle it, and how did it turn out?

whether they can hold people accountable without avoiding hard conversations

Describe a time you had to implement a new hospital-wide policy that your staff pushed back on. How did you get buy-in?

change management skill and credibility with frontline staff

How do you approach recruiting and retaining nurses right now, given how competitive hiring is for med-surg and ICU-experienced RNs?

awareness of current staffing market realities and concrete retention tactics

Tell me about your intensive care background and how you think that experience will shape how you manage a med-surg unit specifically.

whether ICU experience translates into judgment for a different acuity setting

Technical

Walk me through how you would set up a staffing plan for a 3 South-type med-surg unit, including how you'd account for acuity and skill mix.

understanding of staffing methodology beyond just filling shifts

How have you built or managed a unit budget before, and what did you do when you saw a variance you couldn't explain?

real fluency with budget ownership versus just reviewing reports

How do you monitor patient satisfaction scores on your unit, and what's something you've actually changed because of what those scores told you?

whether they use data to drive action rather than just report it

Situational

Say a surveyor from IDPH or an accrediting body shows up unannounced and starts asking your staff about medication reconciliation. What do you do in the moment and afterward?

comfort with regulatory readiness and how they lead staff through survey pressure

A physician is unhappy with how your nurses are handling a case management issue and comes to you frustrated. How do you handle that conversation?

skill at managing physician relationships and de-escalating without undermining staff

If you found out overnight that a patient safety event happened on your unit while you were off, what would your first three actions be the next morning?

grasp of incident response, escalation, and 24-hour accountability for the unit

How do you decide what to escalate to your director versus what you handle yourself when something goes wrong on the unit?

judgment about scope of authority and knowing when to loop in leadership

Practice this interview out loud.

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The full job description

As published by Advocate Health.

Department: 35842 Advocate Trinity Hospital - Med Surg: IU 3 South Status: Full time Benefits Eligible: Yes Hou rs Per Week: 40 Schedule Details/Additional Information: Full-Time Pay Range: $51.05 - $76.60 Major Responsibilities: Planning, management, implementation and evaluation of operations/services to ensure quality, efficiency and cost effectiveness. 1)Participates in short and long term planning. Analyzes and plans for the needs of the area. 2)Establishes staffing requirements. Plans for the appropriate utilization of human resources. 3)Monitors quality of patient care and patient satisfaction; oversees implementation of measures to improve both. 4)Facilitates care delivery in conjunction with the patient focused model. 5)Supports and facilitates case management practice in conjunction with the hospital protocols. 6)Develops and implements policies and procedures to assure effective and efficient operations consistent with the hospital and Advocate Health Care philosophy, policies, and procedures. 7)Ensures compliance with all regulatory agency standards, i.e., federal, state, city, Accrediting Organization, IDPH and all hospital policies and procedures. 8) Promotes patient safety by reporting of issues through established channels and participating as requested in safety initiatives. 9) Develops and incorporates Performance Improvement projects. 10)Ensures that standards of practice are developed, implemented, and evaluated in conjunction with monitoring and evaluation activities within the area. Conducts special projects and studies related to area activities, goals or objectives. Assumes 24 hour responsibility for assigned areas of operation. Assumes responsibility for divisional coverage as necessary. Preparation and administration of budgets to ensure adequate personnel, Facilities, and supplies. 1)Plans and administers an annual budget, and monitors budgetary expenditures, reports and justifies variances on an ongoing basis. 2)Assures efficient utilization of staff, supplies maintained in the area. 3)Identifies inventory levels and costs of supplies maintained in the area. 4)Develops new and expanding program proposals with cost/budget implications. 5)Completes forecasting for upcoming and long-term budgets. 6)Develops major equipment purchase proposals. 7)Assists with the development of feasibility studies. Responsible for the selection, development, motivation and evaluation of staff. 1)Recruits, selects, mentors and motivates direct reports to achieve departmental, professional and personal goals and objectives. 2)Ensures that all staff are evaluated and performance reviews are completed in a timely manner. 3)Coordinates recruitment activities. Facilitate and promote retention strategies. 4)Assesses educational needs of the staff and facilities education opportunities. 5)Assists individuals with identifying professional goals and provides opportunities to achieve those goals. 6)Ensures an adequate orientation program for staff. 7)Implements and coordinates disciplinary procedures. 8)Monitors and facilitates the resolution of performance and/or other employee relations issues. 9)Facilitates staff meetings relating to unit, divisional, hospital and corporate activities. Maintenance of effective working relationships with internal and external contacts. 1)Collaborates with physicians, management and other health care professionals to assure delivery of quality care, patient satisfaction and continual use of area service. 2)Actively participates in hospital committees and projects ( PI projects, hospital projects, etc.) 3)Networks with peers to assure that administrative and clinical standards integrate with department and hospital services. 4)Networks with professionals at other health care facilities for clinical standards. 5)Coordinates activities with various other hospital departments to ensure patient satisfaction as well as cost-effectiveness. Responsible for personal and professional growth and development. 4)Completes required contact hours based on FTE status within, timeframe. 1)Keeps abreast of current standards of care via literature, educational events, internal and external resources and internal/external networking. 2)Maintains memberships in professional and community organizations. 3)Participates in activities to enhance professional growth by involvement in professional organizations and continuing education. Licensure: Nurse, Registered (RN) Education/Experience Required: Bachelor's Degree in Nursing (BSN) and Masters Degree any field OR Bachelors Degree any field with a Master's Degree in Nursing (MSN) required 2+ years of previous management experience focused in an intensive care setting. 4+ years of clinical RN experience with 2 years in intensive care. Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required: Organizational, planning delegation skills Team Building skills Communication skills Demonstrates leadership attributes Results oriented with concern for appropriate process CPR Professional Registered Nurse in state of IL Physical Requirements and Working Conditions: Ability to travel locally as well as long distance travel Ability to work within stressful conditions and difficult situations Resilient and flexible in a changing environment May be exposed to hazardous material and life threatening diseases Ability to cooperate and work with others Ability to make sound and timely decisions This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent. Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties. Our Commitment to You: Advocate Health offers a comprehensive suite of Total Rewards: benefits and well-being programs, competitive compensation, generous retirement offerings, programs that invest in your career development and so much more – so you can live fully at and away from work, including: Compensation • Base compensation listed within the listed pay range based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience, and/or training • Premium pay such as shift, on call, and more based on a teammate's job • Incentive pay for select positions • Opportunity for annual increases based on performance Benefits and more • Paid Time Off programs • Health and welfare benefits such as medical, dental, vision, life, and Short- and Long-Term Disability • Flexible Spending Accounts for eligible health care and dependent care expenses • Family benefits such as adoption assistance and paid parental leave • Defined contribution retirement plans with employer match and other financial wellness programs • Educational Assistance Program Note: Eligibility for programs listed above may depend on your FTE or status (e.g., full-time, part-time, per diem, temporary, etc.); please ask a Recruiter for more information during an interview. About Advocate Health  Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit, integrated health system in the United States, created from the combination of Advocate Aurora Health and Atrium Health. Providing care under the names Advocate Health Care in Illinois; Atrium Health in the Carolinas, Georgia and Alabama; and Aurora Health Care in Wisconsin, Advocate Health is a national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Advocate Health services nearly 6 million patients and is engaged in hundreds of clinical trials and research studies, with Wake Forest University School of Medicine serving as the academic core of the enterprise. It is nationally recognized for its expertise in cardiology, neurosciences, oncology, pediatrics and rehabilitation, as well as organ transplants, burn treatments and specialized musculoskeletal programs. Advocate Health employs 155,000 teammates across 69 hospitals and over 1,000 care locations, and offers one of the nation’s largest graduate medical education programs with over 2,000 residents and fellows across more than 200 programs. Committed to providing equitable care for all, Advocate Health provides more than $6 billion in annual community benefits.

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