Nurse managers, sometimes referred to as nurse administrators, are registered nurses who are tasked with staffing, organizing, supervising, directing, and leading the nursing staff of a department/unit, hospital, clinic, or other healthcare organization. These nurses play crucial roles in the governance and decision-making processes within healthcare organizations, assisting them to adopt new ideas and practices for the betterment of the facility or organization. The multi-dimensional role of the nurse manager requires them to wear several different hats and act as an intermediary who communicates between staff and upper-level management. To be effective, these nurses must know how to work in a fast-paced environment and should have exceptional skills in both traditional nursing as well as business and management tasks including managing budgets, handling personnel matters, and coordinating schedules. Strong organizational and critical thinking abilities are also vital to this profession as nurse managers are in charge of overseeing the RNs providing direct patient care.
What Are Some Nurse Manager Duties?
Some tasks and duties that are commonly carried out by nurse managers may include:
Managing budgets and finances which are related to the nursing staff
Working alongside physicians and other staff to coordinate meetings and to assist patients and their loved ones
Managing and supervising RNs, CNAs, LPNs, and medical clerks
Managing paperwork such as medical records
Mentoring and providing leadership to nursing staff
Creating work schedules for the nursing staff
Recruiting, retaining, and evaluating nursing staff
Discharge planning
Developing educational programs that are designed to improve efficiency and efficacy of patient care
Overseeing inventory of medical supplies
Overseeing day to day operations of a hospital, clinic, or unit
Acting as a liaison between nursing staff, interdisciplinary teams, and upper management
Training the nursing staff
Implementing disciplinary actions when needed
Coordinating treatment plans by delegating individual tasks to RNs within the department
Promoting the advancement of staff, patient care, and patient well-being and satisfaction
Where Do Nurse Managers Work?
Nurse managers can be found in many medical settings. The most common include:
Hospitals
Ambulatory care centers
Long-term care facilities
Assisted living centers
Community health clinics
How to Become a Nurse Manager
If you think you're up to the challenge to become a nurse manager, you'll need to acquire a nursing degree and license, and have strong leadership qualities. Experience with direct-patient care is required, and assuming roles with high amounts of responsibility is also a plus. Although not mandatory, it's highly recommended that nurse manager aspirants go on to earn a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Master's in Healthcare or Business Administration (MHA/MBA).
Step 1: Educational Requirements
To become a nurse manager, the following educational requirements must be fulfilled prior to applying for the certification exam:
Hold an Associate's Degree in Nursing (ADN), Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN), or Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN)
Pass the NCLEX-RN prelicensure exam
Hold an RN license
*Although it's not required, individuals who hold Master's in Nursing Science (MSN) or Master's in Healthcare or Business Administration (MHA/MBA) will have a significant competitive edge over other prospective nurse managers.
Do Nurse Managers Need an RN Degree?
Yes, nurse managers are required to hold active and unrestricted registered nurses (RN) licenses. Depending on the certification one chooses to pursue, nurse managers may be required to have graduate degrees along with experience and a number of continuing education unit/credit hours.
There are a number of certifications that a prospective nurse manager can choose from. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the American Organization for Nurse Leadership (AONL), and the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) all offer their own credentials.
To be eligible for the American Nurses Credentialing Center's (ANCC) Nurse Executive credential (NE-BC), you will need to have fulfilled the following requirements prior to applying:
Hold an active and unrestricted RN license
Hold at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing
Have at least two years of experience in mid-level management or management consultation experience in the five years prior to applying
Have at least 30 hours of nursing administration continuing education in the three years prior to applying
Two certifications are offered by the American Organization of Nursing Leadership (AONL) - the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) and the Certification in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP). While CNML is designed for individuals in a nurse management position, the CENP is intended for nurse who have higher-level administrative and executive rolls.
To be eligible to obtain the CNML credential, candidates will need to have fulfilled the following requirements prior to applying:
Hold an active and unencumbered RN license
Hold a BSN or higher
Have at least 2080 hours or two years of experience in a nurse manager role
OR
Hold an active and unencumbered RN license
Hold a non-nursing baccalaureate degree
Have at least 3,120 hours or three years of experience in a nurse manager role
OR
Hold an active and unencumbered RN license
Hold an ADN degree
Have at least 5,200 hours or five years of experience in a nurse manager role
To be eligible to obtain the CENP credential, candidates will need to have fulfilled the following requirements prior to applying:
Hold an active and unencumbered RN license
Hold a master's degree or higher
Have at least two years of experience in an executive nursing role
OR
Hold an active and unencumbered RN license
Hold a BSN degree
Have at least four years of experience in an executive nursing role
To be eligible for the American College of Healthcare Executives'(ACHE) Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives (FACHE), you will need to have fulfilled the following requirements prior to applying:
Be a current member of ACHE
Hold a master's degree or higher
Have at least two years of healthcare management experience
Pass the Board of Governors Exam
Nurse Manager Jobs, Salary & Employment
Nurse managers are essential components to any healthcare setting. They will always be needed to help facilitate effective medical care and provide leadership to the RNs on the floor. As the aging populations' healthcare needs become greater, the demand for both nurses and nurse mangers will also increase.
Job Description & Information
Essential Skills Needed - Flexibility, versatility, maturity, strong organization and planning skills, critical thinking, leadership, teamwork, management, supportive, professionalism, assertive, mentorship, teaching, and the ability to work well under pressure
Job Outlook - The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that job openings for registered nurses will increase by 16% between the years 2014 and 2024. Because registered nurses will always need nurse managers, it's likely that job openings for nurse managers will also increase at a similar rate.
What Is the Average Salary of a Nurse Manager?
According to PayScale.com, the average annual salary for a nurse manager is $84,017. A nurse manager's earning potential will depend on factors such as city and state of employment, level of education, certifications and credentials, amount of experience, and the employing organization. Employed nurse managers can expect insurance packages which include the likes of medical, dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage. Retirement plans and some annual paid-time off are also generally included in the employee benefit packages of nurse managers. These things will vary from organization to organization, however.
