Healthcare is a complex and dynamic field. To develop properly, it requires strong nursing leadership and management that understands and implements the nursing profession’s best practices and policies. Nurse administrators who can lead other healthcare workers toward a common goal are in critically short supply.
Becoming a nurse administrator at top-tier hospitals generally requires an advanced Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree, in addition to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). For registered nurses (RNs) who do not yet have their BSN, progressing to an MSN-level education can take several years in traditional nursing programs. However, even without a BSN, working RNs can now gain the education they need to advance their careers quickly and conveniently through flexible bridge program options like the online RN to MSN program from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA).
Nurse Leaders and Administrators Can Go by Several Titles
A nurse administrator may go by several titles: director of nurses (DON), nurse executive, chief nursing officer (CNO) or vice president of nursing. Nurse administrators — especially those in executive-level positions — generally report to the chief executive officer (CEO) in the organization. Nurse administrators may be responsible for running several departments, an entire healthcare facility or a network of hospitals.
Nurse managers may have similar responsibilities to those of nurse executives but on a smaller scale. Managers may, at times, work with patients at the bedside during staff shortages. Nurse administrators generally do not.
Skills and Responsibilities of Nursing Leadership and Management
The skills necessary for competent nursing leadership and management include communication, planning, management, assessment, allocation, delegation and coordination. In addition, nurse executives are often responsible for overseeing large-scale organizational operations, including business functions. Thus, nurse executive positions can also require both basic and advanced business skills.
The responsibilities of nurse administrators increase continuously, as do the scope and practice of nurses in many advanced roles. Patients once received treatment only at hospitals or physicians’ offices. Now, healthcare extends to outpatient clinics, urgent care facilities, outpatient surgical centers and in-home care services. This means that today’s nurse administrators and leaders work in a variety of settings where the coordination of patient care is considerably more complex than it was in previous decades. The duties of nurse managers and administrators can include the following:
- Creating schedules and budgets and allocating resources across departments
- Recommending and implementing policy
- Assessing nursing staff
- Overseeing nurse training
- Recruiting nursing staff
- Ensuring proper delivery of services and care
Educational Requirements for Nursing Leadership Professionals
A career in nursing leadership and high-level management generally requires an MSN or equivalent level degree, especially in top healthcare organizations. For instance, a hospital must require all its CNOs have at least an MSN in order to be eligible for Magnet hospital designation.
As noted earlier, working RNs may quickly advance their education to the required level and pursue nurse administrator positions through earning an online RN to MSN degree. UTA’s CCNE-accredited RN to MSN program focuses on contemporary management theory and core competencies that help graduates adapt well in varying healthcare settings and institutions.
Salaries of Nurse Administrators
Salaries for nurse administrators can vary according to title, experience, responsibilities, education and region. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for medical and health services managers — including various nurse administrator positions as well as lower level manager positions — was $110,680 in 2023. Several of these positions are available to professionals who only have a bachelor’s degree, although an MSN gives a job candidate a serious competitive edge.
Comparatively, BLS reports the median salary for chief executives was $206,680 in 2023. This would include CNO positions that generally require an MSN, demonstrating the substantial increase in earning potential for MSN-prepared nurse administrators.
The need for nurse administrators will continue to grow in coming years. Now is an opportune time to enroll in an MSN program that provides the tools to meet future challenges of healthcare. An RN to MSN online program is an ideal way to prepare for high-level nursing roles like nurse administrator and secure the future of an advanced nursing career.
Learn more about UTA’s online RN to MSN program.
