How to Become a Nursing Manager
A nursing manager is the behind-the-scenes force that motivates, organizes, and supports nursing teams. From coordinating schedules and resolving staffing challenges to mentoring new hires and upholding care standards, this role is great for nurses who enjoy leadership as much as clinical practice. You’ll also serve as a key link between administrative leaders and clinical staff, ensuring day-to-day care aligns with larger goals.
Wondering how to become a nurse manager? Let’s explore what healthcare leadership looks like, the financial advantages of the role, and the steps to get there.
What Is a Nursing Manager?
A nurse manager is a registered nurse (RN) who takes on a leadership role within a healthcare setting, blending clinical expertise with administrative responsibilities to ensure that nursing teams perform at their best and deliver high-quality patient care.
This role is generally considered a mid-level leadership role in nursing, and there are more senior roles beyond it — but the exact ladder can vary by organization. As a manager, you’ll often work closely with leaders in positions such as:
- Chief nursing officer
- Clinical nurse leader
- Director of nursing
- Nurse supervisor
- Healthcare administrator
Nurse managers work in a wide range of healthcare settings where nursing teams need strong leadership. You’ll find these roles in hospitals, as well as in outpatient clinics, surgical centers, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, home health agencies, and community health organizations.
What Do Nursing Managers Do?
In short, a nursing manager has the decision-making and supervisory responsibility to oversee the daily operation of a unit and supervise its nursing staff. The role can also be hands-on, with the manager occasionally providing direct patient care, especially when a facility is short-staffed. Here are some of the responsibilities you can expect to see in a managerial job description:
- Staff scheduling: Ensuring that each shift is adequately staffed, handling last-minute call-ins or absences, and making sure patient-to-nurse ratios remain safe.
- Team meetings: Leading shift huddles or unit meetings to communicate priorities, review patient care updates, and address concerns from the nursing team.
- Performance monitoring: Observing staff performance, providing feedback, and conducting performance evaluations to help nurses improve their skills.
- Clinical oversight: Reviewing patient care plans, ensuring proper procedures are followed, and stepping in to support high-risk cases when needed.
- Policy implementation: Ensuring that the unit follows hospital protocols, safety regulations, and compliance standards, and updating staff on any changes.
- Resource management: Monitoring unit budgets, ordering supplies, and making sure essential equipment and medications are available for patient care.
- Problem-solving: Addressing conflicts among staff, resolving patient complaints, and troubleshooting issues that arise.
- Collaboration with administration: Acting as the liaison between nurses and hospital leadership, communicating staffing needs, policy changes, and patient care concerns.
- Professional development: Coordinating orientation for new hires, mentoring nurses, and scheduling continuing education or skills training.
For more examples of typical duties, check out our nurse manager resume sample.
How to Be a Nurse Manager
Stepping into the nurse manager role requires a combination of clinical experience, leadership ability, and organization skills. Let’s break down how you can qualify for and thrive in this role.
1. Finish Your Nursing Degree
Your first step is to become an RN, which typically requires completing either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). A BSN degree is often preferred for leadership roles because it provides a stronger foundation in evidence-based practice and clinical decision-making — key skills for management roles.
It’s not unusual for employers to prefer that nurse managers hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or a Master in Healthcare (MHA). A Master in Business Administration (MBA) can also be valuable for advancing your career. Some nurses even choose to minor in business to strengthen their leadership and management skills.
Tip: If you start your career with an ADN degree and want to pursue a leadership role, you can enroll in an RN to BSN program, which often offers flexible schedules designed for working nurses.
2. Gain Clinical Experience
Clinical experience is essential before stepping into this role — it gives you credibility, confidence, and a deep understanding of patient care and daily unit operations. You’ll typically need five years of nursing practice experience, although some positions may accept two to three years depending on the setting and leadership experience.
Want to build experience in management? In nursing, there are many opportunities to grow your leadership skills while still working as an RN.
- Work in diverse units: Experience in areas like ICU, med-surg, or specialty units strengthens clinical judgment.
- Take charge: Charge or nurse supervisor roles are excellent stepping stones. They let you learn how to assign workloads, coordinate care, and supportstaff on shifts.
- Precept new nurses: Serve as a mentor to new nurses, teaching them clinical best practices and skills.
- Participate in unit initiatives: Join committees (quality improvement, safety rounds, shared governance), lead projects, or coordinate community outreach programs.
3. Take Courses in Healthcare Management
Even with strong clinical experience, understanding the business and administrative side of healthcare is essential for anyone who wants to manage nursing teams. You’re the bridge between clinical staff and healthcare administrators, so you need to know how to communicate effectively, advocate for your team, and implement policies — all while maintaining high-quality patient care and keeping staff morale high.
Taking formal courses in healthcare management or leadership will give you the knowledge and confidence to handle these responsibilities effectively. Here are some options you can review to jumpstart your research:
- Nursing Administration and Health Systems Leadership by Kent State University
- Leadership in Health Systems Management by Drexel University
- Nurse Leader Certificate Program by Ohio University
- Nursing Leadership Specialization by Coursera
- Leadership and Management in Healthcare by Coursera
You can also pursue advanced degrees like an MSN, MHA, or MBA. Additionally, joining professional organizations, attending nursing conferences, and participating in workshops and networking events can support your efforts in climbing up the clinical ladder.
4. Consider Certification
How can you maximize your resume as a nurse? Management positions are scarce compared to staff nurse roles, so earning a professional credential (or demonstrating progress toward one) can really set you apart.
Popular certifications for nurse executives include:
| American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) | American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) |
|---|---|
Skills for Effective Leadership and Management in Nursing
While there are different leadership styles, successful nurse managers tend to share several key skills:
- Diverse clinical expertise: You need a solid understanding of the clinical responsibilities and challenges your staff face so you can effectively support and guide them.
- Strong organizational skills: You must be able to prioritize tasks, manage time efficiently, and juggle multiple responsibilities in a fast-paced environment.
- Good communication skills: You must know how to effectively communicate to various groups of people, from the nurses you oversee to the patients you serve to the administrators with whom you collaborate.
- Leadership skills: You need to learn how to win the trust of those around you. This requires you to have a strong sense of diplomacy, responsibility, and clarity in your vision to help staff navigate changes.
- Emotional intelligence: You need to learn to keep your emotions in check during intense situations while being able to respond appropriately when others get emotional.
- Analytical skills: You must be able to think critically, accurately evaluate information, and make informed decisions that support patients and staff.
What Is the Nursing Manager Salary?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) classifies nurse managers under medical and health services managers, and they’re among the highest-paid nursing jobs in the field. The average annual salary for medical and health services managers is $137,730. Areas with the highest salaries for these jobs are:
In addition to a high salary, a great incentive to pursue this career path is strong job growth. Employment for medical and health services managers is projected to grow by 23% over the next decade — much faster than the average for all occupations.
Check out all the latest jobs for nurse managers to see what you might earn in your area.
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