Nurse managers oversee staff, budgets, and operations, ensuring the nursing unit can deliver quality and safe patient care. Learn how to become a nurse manager by earning a BSN, passing the NCLEX-RN, working as a registered nurse to gain experience, and earning an advanced degree and certifications.
Nursing units have many moving parts and need a leader to ensure they run smoothly. A nurse manager oversees the nursing staff, manages budgets, and helps provide nurses with what they need to deliver safe and compassionate patient care. If you are considering leadership roles in nursing, understanding how to become a nurse manager is essential to mapping your future career.
You can’t jump into a nurse manager role immediately out of nursing school. You must have nursing experience to qualify. If you wish to become a nurse manager or any leader in the nursing field, Felician University can help you take the first step.
Non-traditional students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits can earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) in as few as 16 months through Felician’s Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program in New Jersey.
Nurse managers have a critical role in healthcare. Explore what they do and the steps you will need to take to become one.
What Does a Nurse Manager Do?
Nurse managers are leaders who oversee the nursing department. Instead of working on the floor with patients, they have a supervisory role, requiring them to work in the office and handle the administrative side. Ultimately, their role is to ensure that the nursing staff’s needs are met, allowing them to provide quality, safe patient care.
While specific responsibilities heavily depend on the facility, their general responsibilities include:
- Managing the nursing staff, which can include hiring new nurses, overseeing their training, imposing disciplinary actions, and creating and adjusting work schedules
- Managing the nursing unit’s financial and human resources departments
- Serving as the middleman between the nursing staff and upper management, ensuring nurses’ voices are heard
- Supervising the nursing unit operations, ensuring important tasks are completed, procedures are followed, and goals are met
While nurse managers do not provide direct patient care, they must have years of clinical experience to understand the fundamental needs of a nursing unit.
What’s the Difference Between Nurse Managers and Charge Nurses?
Nurse manager and charge nurse roles are similar. Both are leadership positions that manage nursing staff, oversee operations, and require creative problem-solving as issues arise. The specifics of the roles, however, are very different.
Unlike nurse managers, charge nurses are patient-facing. They work on the department floor, managing the nursing staff. They will oversee smooth shift transitions, monitor patient supplies and medications, assist the nursing staff with questions, and, in some facilities, care for patients.
Where Do Nurse Managers Work?
Nurse managers are administrative leaders. Instead of working on the hospital floor, they will work on the administrative side in an office. Many facilities beyond hospitals require a nurse manager, including:
- Urgent care clinics
- Private physician offices
- Home healthcare services
- Long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes
Steps to Become a Nurse Manager
Becoming a nurse manager will take time. You must first gain years of clinical experience as an RN, so you understand the career’s unique demands and challenges. This will help you to make informed decisions and better understand your nursing staff when you become a nurse manager.
Specific qualifications vary depending on the facility. Some facilities require you to obtain professional certification to qualify. Nurse managers are often advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), so some facilities require individuals to hold a graduate degree as well.
While no one’s journey in nursing is the same, you can expect to go through similar steps to reach your career goals. Learn how to become a nurse manager with the following steps.
Earn a Nursing Degree
Before you can become a nurse manager, you must first become a nurse. Several nursing degree options can help you take this first step; however, the BSN may be the best option for individuals who aspire to leadership positions.
Studies have shown a correlation between individuals with a BSN and higher rates of positive patient outcomes in hospitals. BSN-educated nurses are sought after for their critical thinking, case management, and leadership skills. This degree is also the minimum requirement for admission to graduate nursing programs.
When you enroll in a BSN program, you will participate in classroom courses, hands-on simulation lab experiences, and in-person clinical rotations. This combination will prepare you to take the NCLEX-RN, the nationally recognized nurse licensure exam.
Earning a BSN as a Career Changer
A traditional BSN program is typically four years long, which is not ideal for students with a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or college credits who are looking to transition into a nursing career. For students who want to change careers to become a nurse and later a nurse manager, earning a BSN quickly is a priority.
Felician’s ABSN program can be your first step in this journey. It offers two pathways to earning a BSN for non-traditional students: a hybrid ABSN program in Parsippany, New Jersey, and an on-ground ABSN program in Rutherford, New Jersey. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months.
Both program delivery types offer a high-quality BSN education. As an ABSN student, you will participate in the following courses:
- Nursing Coursework: In the hybrid program, students complete online coursework, while in the on-ground program, students participate in in-person classes.
- Nursing Labs: Both hybrid and on-ground students complete in-person nursing labs. Our skills labs allow students to practice core nursing skills on medical manikins. Additionally, our nursing simulation labs place students in mock clinical scenarios, where they must work together to care for medical manikins.
- Clinical Rotations: Felician University has partnered with Atlantic Health System and other leading healthcare providers to offer students clinical placements, allowing them to explore various practice areas, including adult health, mental health, pediatrics, and more.
Pass the NCLEX-RN
After earning a BSN, you must pass the NCLEX-RN to earn a nursing license. This rigorous exam assesses your nursing capabilities and competencies. It requires you to fully understand the nursing process and exercise critical thinking to provide safe patient care.
You should start preparing for the NCLEX-RN early, preferably in the first year of nursing school. By reviewing practice questions and taking practice exams, you will feel comfortable with the exam’s question style on exam day. Once you pass the exam, you can obtain a nursing license from your state’s board of nursing.
Learn how to set yourself up for success with this ultimate NCLEX guide.
Gain Clinical Experience
With the first phase of learning how to become a nurse manager complete, the next phase involves career advancement. Gaining clinical experience is essential to preparing you for a leadership position. Most nurse manager positions require applicants to have at least two years of RN experience; however, employers will likely favor nurses with more experience.
Use this time to learn from others. Become familiar with department operations and procedures and connect with other nurses and staff.
Earn an Advanced Degree
While this might not be a specific requirement for some nurse manager roles, earning an advanced degree will strengthen your credentials. Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) programs with a focus on leadership and administration or Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) programs are examples of graduate programs that can help you advance your career.
Gain Optional Certifications
Like a graduate degree, certifications might not be mandatory, but they will strengthen your credentials. Possible certifications include:
- Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC®) offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center
- Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML®) offered by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership
Apply for Nurse Manager Roles
With administrative or leadership certifications, a graduate degree in a relevant field, and years of clinical experience, you have prepared yourself to meet the qualifications for a nurse manager role.
Look for opportunities and take the chance.
Career Growth Opportunities in Nursing Leadership
Healthcare administration roles have high earning potential and a strong job growth rate. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers, which would include nurse managers, had a median annual salary of $117,960 in May 2024. Employment is projected to grow by 23% from 2024 to 2034.
One of the many advantages of a nursing career is the advancement opportunities. Nurse managers can become directors, associate vice presidents, chief nursing officers, and more.
Should you decide that becoming a nurse manager isn’t right for you, other advanced nursing roles include:
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
- Case manager
- Charge nurse
- Clinical nurse leader
- Nurse educator
Explore what it takes to be a leader in nursing, from leadership roles to how you can make an impact.
Why Education Matters for Advancing Your Nursing Career
Nurses are lifelong learners. They must stay up to date on best practices and evidence-based care, learn how to use new healthcare technology, and be willing to learn from their patients to provide more compassionate care. Nurses are also required to participate in continuing education to renew their licenses. In New Jersey, they must complete 30 hours of continuing professional education every two years.
Education also plays a vital role in advancing your career. Many leadership and advanced nursing positions require nurses to hold an MSN or higher.
Start Your Path Toward Nursing Leadership
Earning a BSN is your first step toward a career as a nurse manager. At Felician University, the ABSN program prepares you with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the challenges of today’s healthcare environment and become a leader. If you have a non-nursing bachelor’s degree or at least 60 college credits, you can earn a BSN in as few as 16 months, setting you on the path toward becoming a nurse.
With the choice between the hybrid program in Parsippany and the on-ground program in Rutherford, you can take the first step to a rewarding nursing career in New Jersey. Contact an admission counselor today to learn more about the ABSN program.