Nurse Manager

What Does a Nurse Manager Do?

Nurse managers coordinate patient services by managing and communicating with all the nurses within their departments. These types of nurses supervise employees and evaluate their job performance, and are largely responsible for staff recruitment as well as retention. Along with consistently working with nurses, they also occasionally collaborate with physicians on patient care activities within specific units, and provide assistance to patients and their families. Nurse managers conduct administrative work and handle paperwork pertaining to patients' medical records, department budgets and disciplinary actions against employees. Simply put, they wear many hats, acting as liaisons between the hospital and physician groups and keeping up with the rules and regulations of each unit. As their role in health care expands, they are beginning to supervise more staff, manage finances and work with communication systems. Nurses in this type of leadership position must possess strategic management skills in order to establish quality patient care as well as clinical capability across all aspects of health care.

How Can I Become a Nurse Manager?

A nurse manager has a job that calls for a strong educational background and a diverse set of skills. If you are looking for a career in nursing management, you must earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become licensed to practice. As some management positions require higher education, you also might want to earn your master's in nursing or hospital administration. It is also important to obtain some experience working in clinical management, as operational, financial and management skills will be essential to your success. You can choose to demonstrate your expertise in nursing management by becoming certified in it by a professional association like the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Through their program, you can become a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader by fulfilling all eligibility requirements and passing a certification exam. The exam covers topics like general management, financial management, human resource management, performance improvement, strategic management and technology.

What Is the Career and Salary Outlook for a Nurse Manager?

With hospitals trying to attract leaders who can encourage and challenge their staff, the career outlook for anyone looking to go into the nurse management field is positive. You will find that nurse managers are employed at many types of health care facilities, such as hospitals, medical centers, health care organizations, community clinics, ambulatory care centers and long-term care centers. As the health care industry evolves, nurse managers are taking on more responsibilities and new management opportunities are rising. Nurse managers are qualified to hold positions as patient care unit coordinators, nurse case managers, senior managers, nurse unit managers and assistant nurse managers. The salary outlook for these highly qualified nurses depends on the rank of position, as well as the type, size and location of the employer. According to PayScale, the salary of a clinical nurse manager ranges from $61,421 to $84,987 annually, but can vary depending years of experience and specific qualifications.