Nurse Managers: The Glue That Holds It All Together

What is a Nurse Manager?

Nurse Managers are vital to the operation and productivity of hospitals, ambulatory care centers, long-term care centers and other healthcare facilities. They supervise a team of registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), certified nursing assistants (CANs), and medical clerks within a nursing unit.This includes overseeing staff and handling administrative duties, while setting the professional standards of care, leading with vision, and reinforcing the values of the institution.

Through their efforts, Nurse Managers create a positive working environment, maximize efficiencies, and ultimately, improve the quality of patients’ stays.

What Are The Responsibilities Of A Nurse Manager?

Nurse Managers’ responsibilities are multi-dimensional. They are tasked with overseeing the daily demands of unit operations, developing an environment fostering nursing excellence, and serving as the critical link between direct care nurses and senior executives, among other obligations. Nurse Managers ensure their healthcare facility’s team runs effectively and efficiently, while also delivering the highest quality of patient care possible.

Among other duties, Nurse Managers:

DIRECT, SUPERVISE & LEAD

Nurse Managers are responsible for the nurses within their units. They oversee day-to-day operations and assign staff schedules. They serve as mentors, leading by example, and provide support and guidance when needed.

RECRUIT & RETAIN

Nurse Managers maintain their staff by recruiting, retaining and evaluating nurses (both full-time and locum). This includes conducting interviews, selecting hires, providing training and education, and evaluating performance.

COLLABORATE

Nurse Managers represent the nursing staff during cross-functional meetings and collaborate with other departments and top-level management to implement programs that encourage the best patient care.

OVERSEE PATIENT CARE

Nurse Managers assign tasks to the registered nurses on staff to ensure patients’ issues are addressed effectively and expeditiously. This may include working with nurses on challenging cases that require consequential decisions about a patient’s health.

MANAGE FINANCES

A Nurse Manager is responsible for managing, reviewing and budgeting the department’s finances, including salary, supplies, and other expenses.

PERFORM MULTIPLE ADMINISTRATIVE TASKS

Nurse Managers organize and monitor managerial paperwork, such as medical records and disciplinary actions, among these. They also review transfers and patient cases.

UNIFY, MOTIVATE & INSPIRE

One of the essential components of a Nurse Manager’s role is encouraging the personal development and professional growth of all those they supervise. Nurse Managers provide support, but also ensure accountability. They unify, motivate, instill hope, and inspire their team to do their best, collectively and individually, to provide the highest-quality patient care possible.

Steps to Becoming a Nurse Manager

Nurse Managers oversee other nurses, so they must be capable of handling multifaceted responsibilities while working in a fast-paced environment. Strong leadership, organization, critical thinking and communication skills are a must, along with interest in the business behind nursing.

Although educational and experience-related requirements may vary slightly from employer to employer, there are several core steps and prerequisites near-universal along the path to becoming a Nurse Manager. These include...

1. Earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree from an accredited college or university
2. Passing the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to obtain a nursing license
3. Working as a Registered Nurse to gain the proper experience
4. Earning a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Master of Health Administration or Business Administration (MHA/MBA)
5. Passing the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CMNL) examination administered by the American Organization of Nurse Executives

In the Field

 With roughly 3 million baby boomers reaching retirement age annually, and consequently, the number of Americans 65 or older approaching about 75 million, specialized positions within the healthcare industry related to their care, such Nurse Managers, are in high demand, and will be into the foreseeable future.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts an astounding 20% increase in the employment of medical and health services managers through 2026—“much faster than the average for all occupations,” it states—making a career in Nurse Management a wise investment.

• Salary
  The national average salary for a Nurse Manager in the United States is $88,122, and ranges from $60,701 to $113,851, depending on experience and a healthcare facility’s size and location.
  
  
• Where Can a Nurse Manager Work? 
  A Nurse Manager can find employment within a hospital, clinic, nursing home, assisted living center, ambulatory care center, or other health facility. Nurse Managers may want to consider working at a healthcare organization that has been accredited and certified by the independent nonprofit Joint Commission. This distinction denotes a commitment to quality care and adherence to specific performance standards.
  
  
• Advancement Opportunities
  Becoming a Nurse Manager requires extensive experience and education, so many tend to remain in this position for long durations, or even their entire career. Advancement opportunities are available, however. These include roles as nurse executives, nurse educators, nurse case managers, clinical nurse specialists, directors of nursing, and patient care coordinators.