OVERVIEW
What is a Nursing Administrator?
Nursing administrators work to promote smooth nursing team operations. Often, this means they perform audits to ensure continued compliance with all local, state, and federal policies. Ultimately, nursing administrators support the daily operations of a nursing team, giving nurses all the tools they need to succeed.
As a specialized career option, the role of a nursing administrator requires schooling and certification. After you complete your undergraduate degree, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Many employers also want to see at least a few years of experience in a healthcare environment before they'll trust you to lead a nursing team of your own.
RESPONSIBILITIES
What Does a Nursing Administrator Do?
Nursing administrators satisfy many different responsibilities every day to ensure a nursing team continues to function well. On some days, a nursing administrator might spend time recruiting new nurses or developing upcoming nurse work schedules. On other days, they’ll write reports for executives that summarize the nursing team’s performance.
The day-to-day duties of a nursing administrator can include:
- Developing reports that identify how each nurse performed as a part of the nursing team.
- Hiring and firing nurses whenever necessary to create nursing teams that work well together.
- Implementing policies that facilitate basic building upkeep.
- Resolving conflicts between patients, nurses, or other healthcare staff members.
- Providing immediate patient care when required.
- Training nurses on any new policies and practices.
- Leading nurse meetings.
- Assigning work schedules to all members of the nursing team.
- Attending meetings with senior healthcare organization staff members.
- Communicating with various members of the nursing team.
These and other responsibilities help nursing administrators fulfill meaningful careers, organizing nursing teams to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
EDUCATION & BEST DEGREES
How Do I Become a Nursing Administrator?
Before you can begin a career as a nursing administrator, you’ll need to reach a few educational benchmarks. Aspiring nursing administrators should complete a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management. Nurses who already have an RN degree can complete an RN-to-MSN leadership and management program to learn the necessary skills to become a nursing administrator. For those who have already earned a master's degree, a post-master's certificate in nursing leadership & management can be beneficial.
These programs will help you develop skills that are necessary once you begin your nursing career. You’ll become familiar with the nursing leadership environment in addition to organization principles, business management strategies, and global health trends.
Best Degrees for a Nursing Administrator
Health & Nursing
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $8,755 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework and $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Community Health
- Women's and Children's Nursing
- Pathology
- Physiology
- Research
Health & Nursing
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: The program is designed to be completed in 1 year.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term.
- Courses: 23 total courses in this program.
- Transfers: Students can transfer up to 90 credits.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Healthcare Policy and Economics
- Information Technology in Nursing Practice
- Anatomy and Physiology
- Applied Healthcare Statistics
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap...
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.
- Time: 62% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 37 months.
- Tuition: $5,325 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion and $5,035 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
- Courses: 32 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality. This program is ideal for current RNs who are interested in earning both their BSN and MSN in an accelerated program.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing – Leadership & Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for additional career opportunities.
- Time: 61% of grads finish within 23 months
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term
- Courses: 15 total courses in this program
This program is ideal for current RNs who have a BSN and are ready for the next step in their education.
Skills for your résumé you will learn in this program:
- Quality Outcomes in a Culture of Value-Based Nursing Care
- Nursing Leadership and Management
- Advanced Pathopharmacological Foundations
- Informatics for Transforming Nursing Care
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees.
Health & Nursing
Nursing Leadership and Management – Post-Master's Certificate
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who...
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who are ready for greater responsibility in a leadership and management role.
- Time: Students typically finish this program in 12 months.
- Tuition: $5,035 per 6-month term. The cost to sit for the NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam is included in tuition.
- Courses: 8 total courses in this program.
Skills for your résumé that you will learn in this program:
- Strategic Planning
- Resource Management
- Business Case Analysis
- Evaluating Healthcare Improvements
Health & Nursing
Nursing Leadership Certificate – Leavitt School of Health
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the...
Enhance your résumé and take a step in your educational journey with the help of a nursing leadership certificate from the Leavitt School of Health.
- Time: 3 months from start to finish.
- Cost: $2,000 for the certificate.
- Courses: 3 courses total in this program.
This program is for emerging nursing leaders, however this program does not require a bachelor’s degree, and provides transferable credit towards a WGU degree program. The three courses are:
- Interprofessional Communication and Leadership in Healthcare
- Intrapersonal Leadership and Professional Growth
- Nursing Leadership Capstone
How Much Does a Nursing Administrator Make?
$93,688
The exact income of a nurse administrator can vary based on a variety of factors that include your employer, employer’s location, employer’s private or public healthcare funding, years of experience, education, and obtained certifications. The salary of a nurse administrator can average $93,688, with a range of roughly $64,000 to $141,000 earned per year.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
28%
Nursing administrators are expected to enjoy a favorable job outlook for years to come. From 2022 to 2032, the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 6%. Over the same timeframe, employment for medical and health services managers is expected to grow 28%.
SKILLS
What Skills Does a Nursing Administrator Need?
Nursing administrators depend on communication and team management skills as they work to ensure smooth nursing team operations. These skills help individual nurses to fulfill their roles, providing care that promotes short and long-term patient recovery. Nursing administrators need each of the following skills:
- Nurse team management. The ability to effectively manage all aspects of a nursing team, from motivation to scheduling.
- Leadership. The ability to lead a nursing team toward success, providing insight and motivation that drives each member of the team toward success.
- Interpersonal communication. The ability to correspond effectively with nurses, fellow nursing administrators, patients, and other individuals in a healthcare environment.
- Public speaking. The ability to confidently address groups of people in a healthcare setting.
- Staffing. The ability to hire and release employees to create nursing teams that work well in coordination together.
- Financial knowledge. The ability to appropriately manage healthcare organization finances.
- Instruction. The ability to properly educate nursing teams on any new policies, or updates to existing policies, that will affect day-to-day operations.
- Problem-solving. The ability to help patients and nurses mitigate and overcome issues they might face.
- Technical proficiency. The ability to effectively use all necessary pieces of medical technology including any computers, tablets, phones, and online platforms.
These and other skills help nursing administrators effectively lead nursing teams. Whether you’re employed in a hospital or a high school, you’ll lead a nursing team in providing effective treatment to all patients while ensuring continually successful healthcare operations.
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