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In a single day, a nurse manager might interview a potential team member, approve the quarterly budget, oversee a training session on best practices, and assess the progress of a patient treatment plan.

With a staggering 62,100 job openings projected to be available in the field annually from 2024 to 2034, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), healthcare management can offer a rewarding career path for current registered nurses (RNs).

Students who want to learn how to become a nurse manager can begin by researching an accredited RN to MSN degree program, which can offer an excellent foundation for a leadership role in nursing.

What Does a Nurse Manager Do?

A nurse manager oversees a nursing team and is responsible for ensuring that patients receive high-quality care. They also provide guidance and mentorship to nurses on their teams, help promote best nursing practices, and make certain that everyone follows the necessary standards, guidelines, and policies.

The key areas of responsibility for a nurse manager include:

• Staff management: Nurse managers oversee nursing staff recruitment and hiring, scheduling, and policies. Learning about human resources management practices in healthcare settings can prepare RNs for these responsibilities.

• Supervising nurses: The supervisory responsibilities of nurse managers include training nursing staff, acting as a mentor, and enforcing safety policies. Gaining leadership training and supervisory experience can benefit prospective nurse managers.

• Administrative oversight: Nurse managers oversee their unit’s budget and finances. They also track the usage and ordering of medical supplies and document nursing operations. RNs interested in management roles can pursue business management training to build their competencies in these areas.

• Quality control: RNs play an important role in the quality of the care patients receive, and nurse managers oversee this care to ensure the nurses in their units implement evidence-based practices. They also track and work to improve patients’ outcomes. Learning about quality control in healthcare settings can help aspiring nurse managers prepare themselves for these responsibilities.

The actions of a nurse manager have a direct effect on other nurses, and in turn, on patients. As a result, nurse managers can have a significant impact on both patients’ and nurses’ satisfaction.

Steps to Become a Nurse Manager

The process of advancing from a career as an RN to a position as a nurse manager takes time. In order to reach management status, nurses must first follow a series of clearly defined steps.

1. Earn a Degree

At a minimum, a nurse manager must hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. A Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) offers job candidates an edge, and some employers may require an advanced degree. Taking courses in subjects like ethics, policy, and leadership can also prepare students for the challenges they will face in their future careers.

2. Develop Key Skills

As part of their educational and professional experience, nurses can develop essential skills that will be vital to become nurse managers. These skills include:

• Quality improvement

• Policy development and implementation

• Healthcare project management and data analysis

• Advanced nursing practices

• Healthcare technology, including technology driven by artificial intelligence (AI) and technology that uses simulations to train nurses

Because a nurse manager is responsible for areas ranging from staff development to direct patient care, building these wide-ranging core abilities is of the utmost importance.

3. Gain Work Experience

In order to properly supervise other nurses, it’s important to first gain several years of work experience. Although the number of years required differs by employer, many healthcare facilities look for a minimum of five years of experience to be eligible for management positions.

4. Earn Certifications

In addition to an MSN degree, prospective nurse managers can benefit from pursuing a professional certification to demonstrate their leadership knowledge and experience. Common nurse manager certifications include:

• Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML): The CNML credential recognizes nurses with clinical and administrative expertise, including in areas such as performance improvement, staffing, and financial oversight.

• Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC): The NE-BC is appropriate for nurses who hope to oversee a single team of nurses and staff, with a focus on daily operations, staffing, and employee performance.

• Nurse Executive, Advanced Certification (NEA-BC): Nurses who aspire to manage larger teams may want to pursue the NEA-BC, which covers topics like finance, resource management, and system integration in addition to the material included for the NE-BC.

Candidates must meet education and experience requirements to qualify for each of these certifications and must also pass a certification exam. Nurse managers need to renew their credential every three to five years.

Nurse Manager Salary and Job Outlook

Nursing as a whole can be an extremely promising field. Moreover, nurses in management positions are especially well-positioned in terms of financial success and job security.

Salary

Nurses seeking to expand their earning potential can benefit greatly from earning an RN to MSN degree and becoming nurse managers. As of 2024, the median annual salary for RNs was $93,600, according to the BLS. While this salary is well above the median for all occupations, it is lower than the median for nurse managers, which was $117,960.

The amount of money that a nurse manager can expect to make varies based on employer type. For example, in 2024, nurse managers working in nursing and residential care facilities had a median annual salary of $99,250 a year, according to the BLS. In contrast, those employed by hospitals had a median annual salary of 130,690.

Job Outlook

The demand for medical and health services managers, including nurse managers, will likely be high over the next several years. The projected job growth rate for these professionals from 2024 to 2034 is 23%, according to the BLS, which is significantly faster than the 5% projected job growth rate for RNs during that period. Increasing demand for healthcare services, technology advances, and changing care models are expected to drive the growth in nurse manager jobs.

Discover the Potential for Advancement With an RN to MSN Degree

Earning an advanced nursing degree can help students qualify for leadership positions. With ample nurse management opportunities on the horizon, RNs can earn their degrees more quickly with an RN to MSN degree from Wilson College Online.

“Furthering your nursing education will also bring breadth and depth to your current practice,” according to Julie Beck, professor of nursing at Wilson College Online. RNs can expand their knowledge of advanced nursing practices, ethics, policies, and healthcare informatics and develop skills to better serve their patients and nursing teams.

Discover how to become a nurse manager by exploring the RN to MSN program at Wilson College Online.

Recommended Readings

Can Nurses Increase Their Salary With an MSN?

How to Become a Hospital Administrator

Why Earn an Advanced Degree in Nursing?

Sources:

American Nurses Association, “Navigating Nursing Leadership: Your Journey as a Nurse Manager”

American Nurses Credentialing Center, “Our Certifications”

American Organization for Nursing Leadership, Certified Nurse Manager and Leader Certification

Journal of Nursing Regulations, “The 2024 National Nursing Workforce Survey”

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurses