Hello everyone, Welcome to our in-depth Nurse Manager repository!
Today we walk you through the prerequisites, educational requirements, and stages of becoming a Certified Nurse Manager.
At the end of this guide on how to become a Nurse Manager, you must have learned how to fulfill each of the requirements, and understand what it takes to qualify, and you will be well-equipped to begin the process in the career path without difficulty.
This guide will cover:
- Steps to Becoming a Nurse Manager
- Educational requirements for becoming a Registered Nurse in Nurse management
- Required Nurse Manager certifications for Leadership roles
- What should you do once you’ve obtained your RN license?
So relax and let’s take you on an interesting journey!
Steps on How to Become a Nurse Manager
The role of a Nurse Manager in healthcare institutions is highly indispensable.
Essentially, they serve as a mediator between the Nursing staff in an institution and the management.
They maintain and coordinate Nursing activities in the discharge of their duties, and also stand in for them in matters that connect the Nursing staff to the managerial arm of the organization.
In addition, they endeavor that professional policies and health regulations are observed by the staff, in order to achieve the common goal of the institution and the profession.
Furthermore, they ensure that patients are getting the attention needed from the Nursing department.
A Nurse Manager is not different from a Human Resources Manager (HRM) in a firm.
They must have what it takes to employ workers, manage them, and set a goal for the workers.
Medical facilities employers expect that applicants for the Nurse Manager role must have a minimum of 3-6 years of work experience as a Registered Nurse, while some require more.
To become a Nurse Manager, you need to acquire some experience in the Nursing field and also have some academic qualifications.
Becoming a Nurse Manager requires some effort.
It doesn’t start and end in a day, it requires years of hard work and consistency.
The following are the steps on how to become a Nurse Manager:
Step One: Become a Registered Nurse
Before acquiring a Nurse Manager Certification, there is a need to at least become an RN.
And to become a Nurse, you need to earn a degree in an accredited Nursing program.
It can be an Associate Degree (ADN), a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing (BSN), an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing), or a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).
A Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree is the least academic requirement for Nurse Leaders.
Aspiring Nurse Managers should either enroll in and complete a recognized BSN Program, or acquire their ADN and then enroll in an RN-to-BSN Program to fulfill the additional education requirements.
However, to become a Manager in any healthcare facility depends on the organization’s requirements.
Some organizations might demand a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration (MHA) for the job title.
Having knowledge of healthcare management or business would put you at an advantage in handling Nursing leadership positions
Some institutions might require a minimum of a Master’s degree in any concentration of Nursing education before appointing candidates as Nurse Administrators.
The size of the facility determines the academic qualification of the person that would be employed as into Nurse Manager positions.
One key factor you should know is that the higher the academic qualifications, the higher the tendency of getting a Nurse Manager role.
Having academic qualifications alone might not be enough to have a Nurse Manager Certification.
You must have met the requirements laid down in your country in order to act as a Nurse.
In other words, you must be a Registered Nurse (RN) in your country of operation.
To become a Registered Nurse, you must:
- Have completed a Nursing degree in any institution that is accredited by an authorizing body
- After the degree, there is a need to pass the NCLEX-RN (National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses)
The exam is different from the school exam, it’s coordinated by a national body to test your readiness for the Nursing profession.
It would be risky to conclude that just a university or college degree is enough for a person to kick-start in the field.
The NCLEX Exam would further check other areas that Nurses need to be efficient before placing them in charge of lives.
- After passing the NCLEX Exam, you will proceed to obtain a Nursing license from your desired state(s) of operation
Each state has its peculiar procedures, you can approach the bodies in charge of your region to complete the process.
Step 2: Acquire Some Bedside Nursing Experience
The place of experience cannot be detached from getting a Nurse Manager Certification.
Becoming a Nurse Manager means one has already practiced Nursing for several years.
You’ll need years of bedside experience to become a Manager, as you’ll be supervising other Nurses in this position.
Thus you have to gather enough experience being a Nurse in order to solve situations beyond your workers.
Also, you must comprehend different challenges that might seem strange to your staff members.
Before taking on this career, many healthcare facilities would want you to have at least 4-6 years of experience.
Experience is not just needed in this Nursing profession, administrative skill is also needed to properly run the day-to-day activity of the department.
It is believed that the Nurse Manager Certification is not complete without having experience or any qualification in administration.
You can get experience by working in a clinic, hospital, health care facilities, etc.
Step Three: Continue Your Nursing Education
Nurse Managers with advanced degrees are becoming more widespread as Healthcare Management, Business Administration, and Nursing Administration Degree programs become more popular.
Nurse Managers are expected to enroll in master’s level courses that cover Advanced Nursing practices, policy, and ethics.
Some programs involve a practicum in which students must apply what they’ve learned in class to real-world settings.
Organizational management, leadership competencies, and human and fiscal resource management will be among the other classes offered.
Nurse Manager Certification
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) delivers Nurse Executive and Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification Exams.
There are 175 questions on the test, and the certificate is good for 5 years.
NE-BC and NEA-BC (Nurse Executive & Nurse Executive Advanced)
The American Nurses Credentialing Centre (ANCC) offers and regulates this certification.
Nurse Managers who are successful in the exam are given the certification.
Getting this certification automatically promotes and improves the individual’s profile and makes them more valuable.
To gain the Nurse Executive Certification, you need to:
- A valid RN license
- at least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- Have kept a higher or mid-level administrative appointment OR a faculty role instructing graduate students on Nursing Administration OR full-time Executive Consultation or Nursing management position for a minimum of 2 years (or the equivalent) in the last 5 years
- If you don’t have an MSN in Nursing Administration, you need 30 hours or 1,800 minutes of continuing education in Nursing Administration for the last thirty-six months
The ANCC website has all of the conditions for the Advanced Nurse Executive.
They are a little different from one another.
CNML (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader Certification)
Taking an exam to become a Certified Nurse Manager and Leader is another way for a Nurse Manager to get certified.
The CNML (Certified Nurse Manager and Leader) credential is only for Nurse Leaders who are in the role of Nurse Manager.
With the CNML credential, people in the healthcare field will see you as an Administrator.
The ACCN (Association of Critical-Care Nurses) and the AONE (American Organization of Nurse Executives) work together to offer this certification.
Eligibility requirements include:
- At least a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- Twenty-four months as a Nurse Practitioner in Nursing Management OR a Bachelor’s Degree in something other than Nursing and thirty-six months as a Health Services Manager OR a Nursing Diploma or Associate’s Degree and sixty months as a Nurse Manager
- There should be at least 1,040 hours of Executive Nursing Practice in every Nursing Care case
CENP (Certified in Executive Nursing Practice)
The AONE (American Organization of Nurse Executives) offers a credential for executive-level Nurse Leaders.
This certification requires:
- Valid, unrestricted RN license (RN)
- Two years of Executive Nursing experience with a master’s degree or higher in Nursing, or forty-eight months with a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing
- 150 of 175 multiple-choice questions scored exam is required for this certification – It encompasses relationship-building, communication, leadership, healthcare knowledge, professionalism, and business skills
AONE Certified in Executive Nursing Practice Examination Handbook, page 22, has an outline and sample questions.
AONE members pay $325, and non-members $450.
If a candidate meets the requirements and passes the exam, they will receive the CENP.
Nurse Manager Job Outlook
In fact, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) predicts that the number of jobs for medical and Health Services Managers will grow by 15–30% from 2019 to 2029, which is much faster than the average for all jobs.
The annual salary varies depending on where the facility is and how big it is.
Skills Required to Become Successful Nurse Managers
There are some qualities that a Nurse Manager needs to hold in order to work effectively in the Nursing career.
Education and experience might play a content role but there are some skills that would make the job more efficient.
Here are some of them:
Leadership Skill
A Nurse Manager is a leader in all spheres.
The responsibilities saddled on them are to equip them to lead people of different kinds.
A good leader must be able to get the best out of every one of their workers.
This implies that good leadership leads to maximum productivity.
As a Nurse Manager, you are expected to make sure your workers are working in a conducive situation to provide adequate patient care and not risk patient safety.
Leading by example would be a good start when you become a Nurse Manager.
The people must be able to look up to you.
Motivating the people and making them realize the efficiency of their jobs would make them be on their toes and concentrate on the job to be done.
Also, a Nurse Manager must be ready to cover up for any weak position.
Imagine a Nurse that is supposed to be on duty experienced an unforeseen circumstance and couldn’t make it to work.
Someone has to do it, and if no one is available, then the Nurse Manager should be able to stand in.
Multi-Tasking
Nurse Managers always have tons of responsibilities in front of them.
They have a lot of responsibilities to attend to at a time, so they need to have a sharp and active mind towards their job.
While controlling the administrative arm of the Nursing Department, they are also keen to make sure the patients are in safe hands.
Mistakes or errors of any kind can endanger a patient’s life.
Team Work
The ability to work with other people is required.
Since one person can not do all the work, a Nurse Manager must be able to work with other people.
As a Manager, there would be different people to work with, irrespective of their gender, race, religion, and other differences.
Emotional intelligence
A Nurse Manager must be able to manage different kinds of situations.
Nurses are trained to be emotionally intelligent, but a Nurse Manager must be an expert in that.
They are not just mindful of the patient’s medical state, but also the worker’s mood to work.
A Nurse Manager must be able to read reactions and emotions.
They should be competent enough to ensure that the workers are in the right state of mind before starting their daily work.
And a proper response should be given to each circumstance as it deems fit.
Conclusion
It might not be an easy journey from the scratch, but with consistency and hard work, becoming a Nurse Manager is achievable.
Try as much as possible to get every academic qualification possible, and always be ready to acquire experience for the future.
Personal improvement in relating with people would help in properly organizing them to work.
At every moment, try to learn something that would add to you.
So that when the time comes to be a Nurse Manager, you will be prepared to jump right in.
FAQs
What is a Clinical Nurse Manager?
The Clinical Nurse Manager is responsible for supervising the nursing staff working in a healthcare facility such as a hospital, medical clinic, or other healthcare location. In this line of work, you will be responsible for assessing the performance of Nursing Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses.
Is Being a Nurse Manager Worth it?
Nurse Managers have more responsibility than typical shift Nurses, which is a gain as well as a disadvantage. You don’t have to look for a new job or even a new hospital if you want a change of pace at work.
How Hard is it to Be a Nurse Manager?
Nurse management is not for everyone. It’s a demanding job that might make you feel tugged in a dozen extra directions. You must be an ally and friend to the Nurses who function under your supervision while still implementing hospital standards and ensuring that things run smoothly.
How Long Does it Take to Become a Nurse Manager?
Nurse Manager jobs require at least a license as a Registered Nurse and work experience. But many have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and most employers prefer candidates with an MSN (Master of Science in Nursing) Degree and at least twenty-four months of experience managing.
Is Hospital Nursing Management a Good Career Path?
Healthcare needs skilled Managers just like any other field that is growing quickly. The largest group of healthcare workers is Registered Nurses, and Nurses with the right skills and ambition will fill many of these management positions. The path from being a Nurse to being a Manager is clear.
Is a Nurse Manager the same as a Charge Nurse?
Even though both Charge Nurses and Nurse Managers help decide how well patients are cared for, their jobs are different. Charge Nurses take care of patients and are also responsible for running the hospital. Nurse Managers focus more on administrative duties.
What is Nursing Management?
Nursing Management is the process of making decisions and being in charge of how things are run in organizations where Nurses work. It includes budgeting, organizing, planning, staffing, controlling, and directing, which are all things that all Managers do.
