Nursing Administrator Career Guide
How to Become a Nursing Administrator
Nurses provide critical services in a variety of healthcare settings. They provide immediate patient care, advocate for improved patient outcomes, and assess patient needs to determine the best possible treatment plans. Nurses achieve high efficiency when working in tandem with other nurses in defined nursing teams, managed effectively by nursing administrators.
Nursing administrators oversee the day-to-day operations of a particular nursing team, ensuring that each nurse has the tools he or she needs to succeed. As a nursing administrator, you can expect to manage nurse duties, participate in staffing decisions, manage department budgets, and even address conflicts between patients or healthcare staff.
If you’re passionate about healthcare and enjoy exercising skills in communication, team coordination, and business management, the role of a nursing administrator can offer a rewarding career path.
What Is a Nursing Administrator?
Nursing administrators work to promote smooth nursing team operations. Often, this means they perform audits to ensure continued compliance with all local, state, and federal policies. Ultimately, nursing administrators support the daily operations of a nursing team, giving nurses all the tools they need to succeed.
As a specialized career option, the role of a nursing administrator requires schooling and certification. After you complete your undergraduate degree, you’ll need to pass the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN). Many employers also want to see at least a few years of experience in a healthcare environment before they'll trust you to lead a nursing team of your own.
What Does a Nursing Administrator Do?
Nursing administrators satisfy many different responsibilities every day to ensure a nursing team continues to function well. On some days, a nursing administrator might spend time recruiting new nurses or developing upcoming nurse work schedules. On other days, they’ll write reports for executives that summarize the nursing team’s performance.
The day-to-day duties of a nursing administrator can include:
- Developing reports that identify how each nurse performed as a part of the nursing team.
- Hiring and firing nurses whenever necessary to create nursing teams that work well together.
- Implementing policies that facilitate basic building upkeep.
- Resolving conflicts between patients, nurses, or other healthcare staff members.
- Providing immediate patient care when required.
- Training nurses on any new policies and practices.
- Leading nurse meetings.
- Assigning work schedules to all members of the nursing team.
- Attending meetings with senior healthcare organization staff members.
- Communicating with various members of the nursing team.
These and other responsibilities help nursing administrators fulfill meaningful careers, organizing nursing teams to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.
What Education Does a Nursing Administrator Need?
Before you can begin a career as a nursing administrator, you’ll need to reach a few educational benchmarks. Aspiring nursing administrators should complete a Master of Science in Nursing Leadership and Management. Nurses who already have an RN degree can complete an RN-to-MSN leadership and management program to learn the necessary skills to become a nursing administrator. For those who have already earned a master's degree, a post-master's certificate in nursing leadership & management can be beneficial.
These programs will help you develop skills that are necessary once you begin your nursing career. You’ll become familiar with the nursing leadership environment in addition to organization principles, business management strategies, and global health trends.
Best Degrees for a Nursing Administrator
Nursing (Prelicensure) – B.S.
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you...
A one-of-a-kind nursing program that prepares you to be an RN and a baccalaureate-prepared nurse:
- Locations: Due to in-person clinical requirements, students must be full time residents of FL, IN, TX, MO, ID, IA, KS, OH, NM, NV, or UT to enroll in this program. The coursework in this program is offered online, but there are in-person requirements.
- Tuition: $6,430 per 6-month term for the first 4 terms of pre-nursing coursework, $8,755 per 6-month term for the remaining 4 terms of clinical nursing coursework.
- Time: This program has a set pace and an expected completion time of 4 years. Certain coursework may be accelerated to finish faster.
- WGU offers the prelicensure program in areas where we have partnerships with healthcare employers to provide practice sites and clinical coaches to help teach you and inspire you on your path to becoming a nurse.
- If you don't live in one of our prelicensure states or don't qualify to apply, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry, while also working directly with patients who need help.
College of Health Professions
Nursing – Leadership and Management (RN-to-MSN) – M.S.
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a...
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and...
This program for RNs includes a BSN component and is a substantial leap toward becoming a nurse leader.
- Time: 75% of RN-to-MSN grads finish within 42 months.
- Tuition: $4,685 per 6-month term during undergraduate portion; $4,795 per 6-month term during graduate portion.
Some careers and jobs this degree will prepare you for:
- Director of Nursing
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Quality Director
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Project Manager
If you're driven to lead, this online nursing degree will provide you everything needed to make that career a reality.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees by clicking the button below.
College of Health Professions
Nursing Leadership and Management – Post-Master's Certificate
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in...
A certificate for registered nurses with a...
A certificate for registered nurses with a master's degree in nursing who are ready for greater responsibility in a leadership and management role.
- Time: 12 months.
- Tuition and fees: $4,795 per 6-month term. The cost to sit for the NAHQ Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) exam is included in tuition.
Sample careers and jobs this degree program will prepare you for:
- Director of Nursing
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Quality Director
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Project Manager
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 17% by 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.
College of Health Professions
Nursing (RN-to-BSN Online) – B.S.
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking...
An online BSN degree program for registered...
An online BSN degree program for registered nurses (RNs) seeking the added theoretical depth, employability, and respect that a bachelor's degree brings:
- Time: 66% of graduates finish within 18 months.
- Tuition: $4,685 per 6-month term.
- Transfers: On average, students transfer 81 credits.
With over 35,000 BSN alumni, this is one of WGU's most popular online degree programs. View our RN to BSN degree guide.
If you don't currently have an RN and don't qualify for your nursing prelicensure program, consider getting our Bachelor's in Health and Human Services instead. This degree allows you to work inside the healthcare industry in a unique way.
College of Health Professions
Nursing – Leadership and Management (BSN-to-MSN) – M.S.
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree...
For registered nurses with a bachelor's degree who are ready for greater responsibility:
- Time: 82% of grads finish within 24 months.
- Tuition: $4,795 per 6-month term.
Sample careers and jobs this degree program will prepare you for:
- Director of Nursing
- Chief Nursing Officer
- Quality Director
- Clinical Nurse Leader
- Project Manager
The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects employment of medical and health services managers to grow 17% by 2024, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Compare degrees
This program is not the only degree WGU offers designed to create leaders in the field of healthcare. Compare our health leadership degrees by clicking the button below.
College of Health Professions
Our Online University Degree Programs Start on the First of Every Month, All Year Long
No need to wait for spring or fall semester. It's back-to-school time at WGU year-round. Get started by talking to an Enrollment Counselor today, and you'll be on your way to realizing your dream of a bachelor's or master's degree—sooner than you might think!
What Skills Does a Nursing Administrator Need?
Nursing administrators depend on communication and team management skills as they work to ensure smooth nursing team operations. These skills help individual nurses to fulfill their roles, providing care that promotes short and long-term patient recovery.
Nursing administrators need each of the following skills:
- Nurse team management. The ability to effectively manage all aspects of a nursing team, from motivation to scheduling.
- Leadership. The ability to lead a nursing team toward success, providing insight and motivation that drives each member of the team toward success.
- Interpersonal communication. The ability to correspond effectively with nurses, fellow nursing administrators, patients, and other individuals in a healthcare environment.
- Public speaking. The ability to confidently address groups of people in a healthcare setting.
- Staffing. The ability to hire and release employees to create nursing teams that work well in coordination together.
- Financial knowledge. The ability to appropriately manage healthcare organization finances.
- Instruction. The ability to properly educate nursing teams on any new policies, or updates to existing policies, that will affect day-to-day operations.
- Problem-solving. The ability to help patients and nurses mitigate and overcome issues they might face.
- Technical proficiency. The ability to effectively use all necessary pieces of medical technology including any computers, tablets, phones, and online platforms.
These and other skills help nursing administrators effectively lead nursing teams. Whether you’re employed in a hospital or a high school, you’ll lead a nursing team in providing effective treatment to all patients while ensuring continually successful healthcare operations.
How Much Does a Nursing Administrator Make?
$89,015
The exact income of a nurse administrator can vary based on a variety of factors that include your employer, employer’s location, employer’s private or public healthcare funding, years of experience, education, and obtained certifications. The salary of a nurse administrator can average $89,015, with a range of roughly $64,000 to $137,000 earned per year.
What Is the Projected Job Growth?
32%
Nursing administrators are expected to enjoy a favorable job outlook for years to come. From 2019 to 2029, the employment of registered nurses is expected to grow 7%. Over the same timeframe, employment for medical and health services managers is expected to grow 32%.
Where Do Nursing Administrators Work?
Varies
Nursing administrators can work in a wide variety of locations depending on the needs of their nursing teams. Some nursing administrators might work in independent doctor’s offices while others could be employed in a large hospital setting. Ultimately, your location as a nursing administrator will be determined by your employer.
Nursing administrators can work in any of the following locations:
-Hospitals
-Inpatient or partial hospitalization facilities
-Outpatient facilities
-Private physician offices
-Emergency medical centers
-Nursing homes and long-term adult care facilities
Nursing Administrator FAQ's
How long does it take to become an administrative nurse?
BSN programs usually last four years. A master’s degree may also be required depending on your employer. In total this can take 4-6 years to complete if you are beginning with no prior education or experience. However, places like WGU can help you complete your degree even faster.
What do you need to become a nurse administrator?
You must have a minimum of a BSN to become a nurse administrator. In most cases, you’ll also need several years of experience and may need a master’s degree.
What does a nurse administrator do?
Nurse administrators oversee scheduling, budgeting, managing nurses, and ensuring patient care standards are upheld.
Is nursing administration a good job?
Nurse administration is a good field to pursue since it is a growing field and provides a good salary. Whether or not you will feel satisfied with the work depends on your preferences, ability to manage people, the setting you work in, and other factors.