Nursing Administration & Leadership Careers

The Role of a Nurse Administrator or Nurse Leader

How do you become a Nurse Administrator or Nurse Leader?

In most cases, nursing administrators are registered nurses (RNs) who have earned their master’s degrees and possess the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively manage a healthcare facility. Nurse leaders, nurse executives, and nurse administrators concentrate on several key areas, including staff development, labor relations, healthcare financing, staffing and scheduling, patient classification systems, healthcare innovations, quality improvement management, performance outcomes, program evaluation, and human resources management.

Nursing Administration and Leadership Scope of Practice

What are the job responsibilities of a Nurse Administrator or Nurse Leader?

Nursing administrators, also known as medical and health services managers, healthcare executives, or healthcare administrators, are responsible for planning, directing, and coordinating medical and health services. They may oversee an entire facility, a specific clinical area or department, or manage an outpatient or community center. Typical responsibilities of nursing administrators include:

  • Developing goals and objectives to enhance the efficiency and quality of healthcare services.
  • Ensuring that the facility complies with relevant laws and regulations.
  • Preparing and monitoring budgets while managing finances, including patient fees and billing.
  • Recruiting, training, and supervising staff members.
  • Creating work schedules for the staff.
  • Representing the facility or department at investor meetings or on governing boards.
  • Maintaining organized records of facility services, such as the number of inpatient beds used.

Nurse Administrator and Nurse Leader Salaries

How much does a Nurse Administrator or Nurse Leader make?

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) indicates that the median annual salary of Medical and Health Services Managers, such as Nurse Leaders and Nurse Administrators is, $110,680 as of 2023.