Nurse administrators supervise an entire healthcare unit’s nursing staff. That is why this role can be far difficult to obtain. It takes years of nursing practice and several qualifications and licensure to lead an entire pack of nurses finally. Their vast experience in nursing makes them eligible to understand the complexity of the nursing profession. Consequently, they’re better able to manage and lead the nurses of their healthcare facility. Besides the experience, nursing degrees like an MSN in nursing administration prepare you for such roles.
What is a Nursing Administration MSN Degree?
So, What is a Nursing Administration MSN Degree? These degree programs are designed with curriculums that prepare you for leadership roles in highly diverse environments. Nurse administrators are expected to adapt to various environments and take onto several roles at once. They act as managers, recruiters, budget planners, inventory managers, performance evaluators, counselors, and mother figures to their subordinates. A master’s in nursing administration is also required for most admin roles today. Continue reading to understand the responsibilities of a nurse administrator better.
Responsibilities of a Nurse Administrator
1. Recruitment and Selection
Nurse administrators assist the HR department with recruiting and selecting nurses because of their vast experience in the field. They can spot a good nurse when they see one. They also have the eyes of a hawk in recognizing potential. Nurse administrators train and counsel new nurses to adapt to the difficult but fruitful nursing profession when the recruitment process is over. Caregiving isn’t as straightforward as it may appear. It takes a specific skill set to cater to the sick and elderly. While nursing degrees teach you most of it, you can only truly learn under the leadership of a suitable and experienced mentor.
3. Business Decision Making
Nurse administrators aren’t just authorized to make hiring and firing decisions. The seniority of their role makes them entitled to have a say in major business decisions in the healthcare unit. They’re responsible for looking after the purchase decisions regarding hospital equipment and other resources. They also determine the kind of services offered to the patients and improvise the service provider or other hospital operations. Nurse administrators ensure that every department runs smoothly and performs its jobs effectively.
3. Policy Making
Hospitals are slightly more complex to manage than other organizations because a breach in the common protocol can have life-altering consequences for the patients. Sometimes, these consequences may lead to legal action too. Hence, hospitals have very strict policies that keep the employees going. Policymakers design these policies, and nurse administrators assist them profoundly. They take insights from each department, raise concerns, and then develop proposals to introduce new policies or amend existing ones. Besides that, nurse administrators also communicate and counsel the staff to follow the policies adroitly and ensure compliance.
4. Ensure The Provision Of Top-Tier Service Standards
Nurse administrators are hardly involved with caregiving, but their critical responsibility is to ensure that the patients and their families get the best of services. They directly get in touch with the patients to ask for feedback. Moreover, they counsel the families during difficult times. Nurse administrators often go out of their line of duty to ensure that patients and families are satisfied with the quality of care they receive. It is safe to say that they also take on the role of a public relations specialist in their healthcare unit.
5. Representing Employees
Nurse administrators also act as middlemen between the nurses and other personnel of the hospital, typically the higher-ups in the hierarchy. They’re the spokesperson for the needs of the staff and put forward their needs and proposals. Furthermore, they also negotiate with the staff on behalf of the higher management. A nurse administrator must have exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to proceed with these roles successfully. They must also be good negotiators and comprise perfect time management and problem-solving skills.
The Bottom Line
Becoming a nurse administrator is every nurse’s dream. This dream has the potential to become a reality if you’re equipped with the right kind of skill set, certification, and knowledge. Step 1 towards becoming a nurse administrator is to obtain a Master’s degree in nursing administration. It prepares you for leadership in dynamic hospital environments. It teaches you several soft and hard skills that may help you in your journey.
The duties of a nurse administrator are diverse, as their role. They assist the HR with recruitment and selection, train and counsel the nursing staff, plan budgets, ensure quality service, and represent the nursing staff in the hospital.