If you are pondering about advancing your nursing career, taking on nurse leadership roles in Canada is a fantastic alternative. Nurse administrators are also sometimes referred to as clinical nurse managers, nurse directors, nurse managers or nurse executives. Compared to RNs, nurse administrators have various responsibilities. They provide strategic planning and direction, oversee the day-to-day activities of nursing departments, and carry out initiatives to advance healthcare facilities.
In this blog, we'll try to explain what a nurse administrator is as well as how you can become one.
What is a Nurse Administrator?
A variety of executive-level nursing activities are included in the nursing specialty of nursing administration. A nurse administrator oversees employees in several hospitals or medical departments while also performing administrative duties like conducting performance reviews, attending meetings, creating training protocols, and much more. A nurse administrator oversees nurse managers and often reports to the hospital CEO. Most of the time, a nurse administrator's duties are managerial in nature and involve little to no direct patient contact. The healthcare sector is a fast-paced, ever-evolving one, and nurse administrators have various work options. Senior nurses are required in medical facilities to supervise designated staff nurses and ensure that rules and policies are being followed.
Duties of a Nurse Administrator
Nurse administrators are responsible for providing leadership for nursing departments in a variety of settings, including hospitals, private practices, long-term care institutions and more. In addition to this, nurse administrators also draw their expertise from the clinical setting. The roles of nurse administrators, who also operate in office environments, cover both operational management and strategic leadership. Nurse administrators' strategic leadership responsibilities frequently include:
- Planning a budget,
- Establishing policies and procedures,
- Collaborating with boards to establish performance objectives.
Their position is important because nurse administrators are essential to the growth of nursing in Canada. The recruitment, hiring, and organisation of nursing staff's professional development are within the purview of nurse administrators. They establish work schedules, evaluate nurses' performance, and implement disciplinary measures as necessary. Additionally, nurse administrators are in charge of working with the medical staff and speaking on behalf of their nursing departments in meetings with hospital administrators or other healthcare executives.
How to become a nurse administrator?
As registered nurses, nurse administrators have already successfully completed a postgraduate nursing programme. The nurse administrators have high-level duties and are skilled at managing employees. They must therefore possess a wealth of nursing knowledge in addition to a stellar track record of management and leadership abilities. The important steps to becoming a nurse administrator are as follows.
Get a Bachelor's Degree
Getting an accredited nursing degree is the first and most important step to become a nurse administrator. The majority of nursing schools contain courses in biology, chemistry, psychology, microbiology, statistics, anatomy, and other related subjects. Although some organisations permit persons with a nursing diploma to hold nurse administrator positions, obtaining a bachelor's degree is typically required in order to work in advanced roles like administrative nurses.
To become a registered nurse, nursing students must pass the NCLEX-RN, or National Council Licensure Exam for Registered Nurses, after completing their nursing education in Canada. You can undertake this exam after finishing nursing courses in Canada and demonstrating your eligibility to take the exam.
Earning a master's degree or certificate
Employers prefer nurse administrators who have finished a postgraduate nursing programme with a focus on nursing administration. Along with clinical experience and voluntary certification, nursing administration programme graduates must possess the knowledge and abilities required in business administration.
For nurses who already hold a bachelor's degree, many colleges in Canada offer graduate certificates in nursing administration. If someone is unable to fully commit to a full academic curriculum, this is incredibly helpful.
Work Experience
Nurse administrators should obtain the necessary work experience after obtaining the necessary education and training. Registered nurses can receive on-the-job training and internship possibilities in managerial and administrative positions in workplaces like hospitals, clinics, and healthcare facilities.
Certifications
Certain nursing organisations offer certifications for nurse executives. The candidates should be registered nurses with a bachelor's degree, administrative nursing experience, and administrative nurse training. Professional nurse certification is completely optional and opens up job prospects while demonstrating a nurse's leadership skills.
Future growth potential of a nurse administrator
Nurse administrators in Canada make, on average, $102,331 per year, as per Indeed.com. The salary depends on various factors such as the location, experience, qualifications and various other criteria. The job expectations for nurse administrators appears good given the steadily increasing demand for nursing professionals.
Conclusion
As a result, being a nurse administrator is a great choice if you want to leave the clinical setting and advance in your nursing career. If you are interested in pursuing a career as a Nurse administrator, contact our experts at MWT Education Consultancy who can provide you with all the necessary assistance.
