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Nurse Administrator - Career Profile |
Career OverviewThe nurse administrator is responsible for the quality of care provided to patients during each stage of their treatment and recovery. The nurse administrator is basically the overseer of the effectiveness of the nursing staff, the quality of patient care, as well as the day to day running of the ward, clinic, long-term care facility or other medical facility that the nurse administrator is in charge of.
To be an effective nurse administrator it is essential that the individual have a good working knowledge of the facility as well as the duties that each staff is required to perform. The nurse administrator is responsible for staffing, developing teams, ensuring appropriate levels of staff at all times as well as determining staff effectiveness.
The nursing administrator manages inventory and supplies on the ward, in the clinic or within the facility and also orders supplies and maintains inventory controls. Assisting in development and maintenance of budgets and reporting to business managers regarding budgets, patient care and quality, staffing issues and inventory and supplies is a critical part of a nursing administrators job. Effective communication, leadership skills as well as a good understanding of management practices and fiscal policies is essential for a nursing administrator.
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Career RequirementsA nursing manager is usually an experienced nurse that has had additional training in administration and management. Often nursing administrators have completed a Master’s in nursing administration or nursing management as well as worked in a variety of nursing positions within a facility.
Nursing administrators can either qualify through a RN (Registered Nurse) licensure with a Bachelors or Associates Degree in Nursing as well as courses in management and administration, or a MSN (Master’s of Science in Nursing) with a focus on management, or a Doctorate program.
While there is no specific credentialing required to be considered a nursing administrator most are credentialed through the American Nurses Credentialing Center. In addition many nurse administrators belong to the:
American Organization of Nurse Executives
One N. Franklin, 34th Floor
Chicago, Illinois
60606
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Job OutlookIt is estimated that there will continue to be a shortage of trained and skilled nurses in hospitals across the United States, and that the number of management level nurses will continue to decrease as the number of patients in hospitals increases. The demand for administrative nurses will continue to increase as hospitals, out patient treatment, clinics and long-term care facilities increase the number of patients that are cared for per year.
In addition there is a growing trend for nurses to remain in the career shorter periods of time. This means that there are less experienced nurses on the floor and this can, in turn, lead to a decrease in the number of experienced nurses trained for upper management positions. While age is not the sole determining factor in the decision to become a nurse administrator, experience often is.
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Career TrackA nurse administrator can assume many roles within a hospital or facility. Some of the possible options for a nurse administrator are:
- Shift Administrator
- Administrator to a private clinic
- Budget Administrator
- Hospital Administration
- Quality control and patient satisfaction
- Human Resources
- Mentor
Management jobs are all accessible once the nurse administrator has made the transition from the clinical or medical responsibilities as a nurse to the more clerical and management oriented responsibilities of a nurse administrator. Often this transition is somewhat difficult so mentors are key in helping the new nursing administrator get started.
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CompensationExperienced nursing administrators in large hospitals often have salaries that range between $100,000 and $180,000 per year, including bonuses. It is a very challenging job with many long hours and lots of overtime, especially in the first few years of taking on the job.
Nursing administrators in smaller hospitals, long-term care facilities and private clinics may have salaries that range between $80,000 and $150,000, again depending on the size of the facility and the number of patients and staff that are under the nurses administration. Smaller hospitals and clinics often “share” a nursing administrator on a part-time basis.
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