Nurse Manager – Nurse Administrator Career
I am interested expanding my role as a nurse. Learn more about a career in nursing management…
If you are an experienced nurse looking for more challenging avenues or a new offshoot to your nursing career, becoming a nurse manager is one excellent option. Nurse managers are basically nurse administrators who oversee nurses, assistant managers, and who are responsible for running their department or ward. Their duties involve hiring, training, evaluating staff, scheduling work shifts, and ensuring that the patients are receiving the best care. They also must stay abreast of changes in nursing and advancements in technology and incorporate that into their work setting for their staff.
Become a Nurse Manager
- Career Plan: How to Become a Nurse Manager
Nurse Manager / Nurse Administrator Resources…
- Nurse Manager Certifications
- Job Description & Stats: Nurse Manager
- Career Ladder: RN to Nurse Manager
- Related Informatics and Business Careers
- Related Direct Patient Care Careers
You are already an RN. What is the next step?
Becoming a nurse manager requires being an experienced RN (registered nurse) with a bachelor’s degree. Any type of nurse can become a nurse manager, but whichever specialty you are in, you must excel at, and you must be prepared to serve as a leader for nurses in that field.
Options for certification – CNML, CENP
Since you will already have earned your degree if you have some nursing experience and are seeking a leadership role, the first step is to pursue certification. The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) offers certification as a nurse manager and leader (CNML). Certification is voluntary, but is always recommended in health care. Certification does not only better prepare you, but it indicates that your training is up to national standards and that your skills and knowledge are current in an ever-advancing medical field. Certification eligibility requires a bachelor’s degree and two years of leadership experience in nursing, or an associate degree and five years of experience as a nurse manager. There are certification programs available as well that aim to prepare you for the nurse manager role in today’s highly efficient, fast-paced, and dynamic world of health care.
Becoming certified in executive nursing practice (CENP) is another career option once you have a master’s degree, and four years of experience in an executive nursing role. Consider pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing Administration or health administration, in which you would study financial management, human resources management, health policy, and technology.
Job outlook and statistics
Recent statistics at salary.com state that the median salary of a nurse manager in the U.S. is $88,805, with the top 10% earning over $100,000. The salary potential is often higher in big hospitals than it is in medical clinics, physician offices, or nursing care facilities.
The future job prospects for nurse managers in all areas of nursing are also very good. In response to our rapidly aging and growing population, the field of health care is expanding and evolving at a fast rate. The nursing field is set to keep pace with this rapid expansion. The more educated you are as a nurse, the more competitive you will be. If you are interested in combining a leadership role with your nursing career, finish your BSN now and consider starting an advanced degree program or enroll in some leadership courses. Once you have the required degree and experience, you can begin a rewarding and challenging career as a nurse manager.
To learn more about becoming a nurse manager, you can contact schools that offer health care management or related programs. If you have not decided if this is the right career choice for you, take some time to explore additional careers in health care.
