Becoming a Nurse Manager (Nurse Administrator)- Roles, Skills, Eligibility, Career Scope and Salary

Updated November 10, 2022

A nurse manager, also known as a nurse administrator, acts as a communication link between nursing staff and upper management in a hospital or care facility. Nurse Managers are kind of advanced practice registered nurses who have obtained at least a master’s degree in Nursing. They direct, supervise, and lead the nursing staff of a care facility, create schedules for employees, provide annual performance reviews, and help create policies within the care unit.

The minimum educational qualification required for this post is that the candidates must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, most major healthcare facilities accept candidates with MSc in Nursing degrees or are currently enrolled in a master’s program.

If someone loves to be assigned management roles and aspiring to a career in the nursing field, nursing management would be perfect for him. This article is dedicated to a career in nursing management, so just go through it and explore different aspects like different job roles, salary, skills required, eligibility, etc.

The Nurse Manager: Primary Roles

Nurses in managerial posts are not expected to take only vital decisions that aid in the care of patients but also perform specific duties, which are the following.

  • Keeps Records
  • Manages Staffs
  • Offers Mentoring
  • Staff Recruitment
  • Prepare Schedules
  • Case management
  • Discharge planning
  • Create Budget plan
  • Treatment planning
  • Creates educational plans

Employment Areas For Nurse Manager Jobs

Nurse managers are commonly found in hospitals, where they oversee and manage nursing staff on a specific unit or specialized floor. However, a variety of settings are also open for Nurse managers as the field of healthcare and nursing is evolving day by day, and the opportunities for Nurse Managers are continuously growing. Listed below are some of the working environments for the Nurse Managers.

  • Nursing Home
  • Urgent Care Centres
  • Veterans Affairs Hospital
  • Offices of Private Doctors
  • Home Healthcare Agencies
  • Outpatient Treatment Centres
  • Medical and Surgical Hospitals

Eligibility for Nurse Administrator Job

In order to apply for the Nurse Manager post, an aspirant must fulfil certain eligibility criteria. The minimum eligibility criteria that every healthcare facility or hospital accepts are Listed below.

  • Candidates must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing course from any recognized institution. With the increasing popularity of nursing administration posts, candidates are also asked for MSc in Nursing certificates in  most of the healthcare units.
  • Candidates also have registered themselves as a nurse with any state nursing council.
  • Years of experience is also required for a Nurse manager’s post as many healthcare facilities ask the candidates for at least five years of experience before designating this job role.

Nurse Manager Skills

Not all nurses are assigned management roles because nurse managers require skills beyond clinical care. The Nurse Managers’ job is assigned to those who possess quality like management skills, budgeting, business acumen & leadership qualities, etc. However, communications and interpersonal skills are also crucial for this post. Listed below are some of the vital qualities one should possess to be assigned for this post.

  • Advocacy
  • Flexibility
  • Analytical
  • Organized
  • Leadership
  • Good listener
  • Problem Solver
  • Professionalism
  • Clinical expertise
  • Mature Response
  • Supportive Nature
  • Mentorship Quality
  • Active Participation
  • Effective Communication skills

Nurse Administrator Career Scope

The healthcare sector is experiencing rapid growth worldwide, which resulted in high demand for Nursing professionals. And similar goes with Nurse Managers’ posts. Since the number of jobs for nurses is predicted to increase, nurse managers will remain required to supervise the nurses. Based on the report released by the Ministry of Labour and Employment (MLE), India, the demand for health administration is projected to increase by 12-18 percent through 2028. Potential applicants will discover that the need for nurse managers will grow faster in outpatient facilities than in inpatient hospitals.

Nurse Manager Salary and Employment

The average salary a nurse manager can receive in India can be Rs.5 to 6 lakh per annum. The salary of the Nurse Mangers varies depending on the various factors like, employment area, experience, skill set, etc. In general, higher pay for nurse managers is found in hospital settings and Intensive Care Units.

Because of the vast knowledge required to become an nurse administrator, many nurses enter the field of nursing management and tend to stay in the field. Candidates also aspire to be Nurse manger because additional opportunities are also available within the leadership, such as the director of nursing, clinical nurse specialist, patient care coordinator, and nurse case manager.

Q. How do I become a nurse manager?

Ans- Candidates who aspire to a career as a Nurse Manager must have completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. However, for this post, numerous major healthcare facilities employ candidates who have completed MSc in Nursing degrees or are currently enrolled in Masters programs in related fields.

Q. Is it worth it to be a nurse manager?

Ans- Yes, the nurse manager job is quite rewarding and challenging at the same time. So, for one who enjoys doing challenging work and making a profit, nursing management will be perfect for him. The average salary for a nurse manager in India can be 5 to 6 lakh per annum.

Q. What does a nursing manager do?

Ans- The nursing manager, also known as Nurse administrators, are responsible for managing financial and human resources, ensuring patient satisfaction, maintaining a safe environment, and ensuring that standards and quality are maintained. They also align the goals of the unit with those of the hospital.

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