The Roles And Responsibilities Of Nurse Managers

Being a nurse manager -- what used to be known as a head nurse -- is a demanding but rewarding job

. It requires not only good nursing skills but good managerial skills as well.

It is a job that generally requires a good deal of experience, working your way up through the years of clinical practice and advanced education. As a manager, you have to handle personnel issues, such as training, nurse work performance, and legal issues that may arise. As a nurse manager, you would lead a specific department, such as intensive care or pediatrics.

Nurse managers plan and direct the activities of the nurses in their department so that the patients receive a high quality of care. The nurse manager chooses the nurses to work in the department, and then works with them to help them do their job in the most efficient manner possible. The manager also evaluates their performance. In addition, the manager also keeps track of the hospital's quality standards for the department to make sure they are being met. The manager makes sure the department has the resources it needs, and the nurse manager plans staff development classes as well.

Working with other departments, the nurse manager helps coordinate healthcare for the entire hospital and make long-term plans for the delivery of healthcare. Managers also develop budget estimates for their departments, and keep track of purchases and expenses to make sure they are in line with budget guidelines. The manager also assigns nurses to patients in the department, and develops treatment plans for patients. The manager also coordinates the care that is given to the patient by his or her medical team.

In their leadership role, nurse managers also face different challenges. One such challenge is the retention and job satisfaction of the nurses in their department, an especially important issue today with the current nursing shortage. Along with that, managing the care of patients with a nursing shortage is a challenge as well.

Planning the department budget and resources also is an ongoing challenge. In addition, nurse managers need to know how to handle human resource issues. Being in a management position, they have to deal with the nursing union, which has its own agenda relating to nursing job conditions.

And finally, nurse managers are responsible for creating a positive atmosphere in their department, one where the nurses feel valued and encouraged to give their best effort. To do this, the nurse manager must be a good communicator, making sure that information flows back and forth. And the manager needs to maintain a performance-oriented culture, where the nurses are continually striving to meet or exceed the established standards of care.

by: Jean Henshaw

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