Being a Nurse Administrator: Responsibility Equals Opportunity

Completing your University of Arizona Online Master of Science in Nursing will open doors to positions of greater leadership and the opportunity to help people receiving care -- as well as families, doctors and fellow nurses -- in new ways.

One advancement many MSN's pursue is that of nurse administrator, overseeing everything from strategic planning and budgeting to daily of care delivery, including the responsibilities below.

Supervising Nursing Staff

A key responsibility as a nurse administrator is leading nursing staff. This includes scheduling, coordinating with doctors and organizing staff to ensure safety, efficiency and effectiveness, explains Nurse Explorer.

Creating Policy

In another aspect of leadership, nurse administrators are responsible for developing policies and procedures that are effective and up-to-date. Wherever existing practices can be improved, nurse administrators are empowered to effect real change.

Recruitment & Retention

Nurse administrators are often responsible for recruitment, selection and training of new staff, as well as retention of existing staff, working with HR and aligned with an organization's larger mission. Though challenging, this responsibility also means the opportunity to create your nurse "dream team" over time.

Budget Management

As RN Beth Greenwood reported in the Houston Chronicle, nurse administrators must be prepared to manage finances, often for several departments at once. This task can include decisions about equipment purchases, what patient services should be offered, transport, home care, salaries and more.

Here again, the challenges in budget management can be significant, but so are the opportunities. Financial responsibilities also empower you with the chance innovate and allocate resources more strategically.

Helping Patients Live Their Best Lives

As a nurse administrator, you'll be responsible for the quality of care that patients receive, ensuring that each is receiving the treatment and support that allows them to live at their best. Here is where your medical knowledge and care experience most intersect with your newly strengthened leadership and management skills.

Interdepartmental Relationships

As the intermediary between patients, doctors, nurses and various departments, nurse administrators balance many needs and many voices. You'll often act as a liaison between the senior management and nursing staff. Effective communication, facilitation and even negotiation are vital.

Mentorship

Nurse administrators wear many hats, a fact that some consider the best part of the job. Through it all, they act as not only leaders but also role models and mentors, helping the staff under their care understand how their work impacts a larger vision and mission, modeling effective stress management and multitasking, coaching attention to detail and much more.

It's said that with great power comes great responsibility. What that axiom leaves out is that with great responsibility can come great joy: the satisfaction of using your education, experience and skills to make a real difference in people's lives in every area you touch.