What is a Nurse Administrator?
Nursing administration encompasses a wide variety of executive-level nursing tasks. Nurse administrators typically manage staff in medical departments or hospitals and complete administrative tasks such as performance reviews, attending meetings, developing training and personnel procedures, and more. A nurse administrator reports directly to a hospital CEO and may oversee nurse managers. This role is typically office-based and managerial, with little to no direct patient interaction. Beyond the role of a nurse administrator, there are several other admin-related jobs in the healthcare field that nurse administrators sometimes get confused with:
| Nursing Role | Description | Certifications |
| Charge Nurse | Oversees a specific unit or department during a shift, managing patient care, assigning tasks to nursing staff, and ensuring efficient operations. | Registered Nurse (RN) license; often requires Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). |
| Nurse Manager | Responsible for the overall management of a nursing unit, including budgeting, staffing, and policy implementation. This role and the role of a nurse administrator are sometimes referred to interchangeably, but typically a nurse manager only looks after one hospital where a nurse administrator will oversee an entire chain of hospitals or medical facilities. | RN license; Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) often required; Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) optional. |
| Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) | Provides and oversees patient care, evaluates outcomes, and implements evidence-based practices to improve quality. | RN license; Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a CNL focus; CNL certification from AACN. |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) | Acts as an expert in a specialized area of nursing practice, providing advanced patient care, consultation, and system improvements. | RN license; MSN or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) with CNS specialization; CNS certification in specialty area. |
| Nurse Supervisor | Oversees nursing staff, ensuring compliance with policies, addressing issues, and coordinating between departments. | RN license; BSN often preferred; leadership certifications like CNML beneficial. |
| House Supervisor | Manages hospital operations during off-hours (nights, weekends), addressing staffing needs and emergencies across units. | RN license; BSN preferred; experience in various nursing roles; leadership certifications advantageous. |
| Unit Coordinator | Facilitates communication within a unit, managing administrative tasks, scheduling, and ensuring smooth operations. | RN license; certifications depend on facility requirements; administrative experience beneficial. |
| Head Nurse | Leads a nursing unit, managing staff, overseeing patient care, and ensuring adherence to protocols and standards. | RN license; BSN or higher often required; leadership certifications like CNML or NE-BC beneficial. |
How to Become a Nurse Administrator
Nurse administrators are advanced-practice registered nurses (APRNs) who must hold a post-graduate nursing degree. Because nurse administrators manage staff and have high-level responsibilities, they must have extensive experience in nursing and impeccable leadership and management skills.
A typical nurse administrator job description can include any of the following:
- Master's degree in nursing or healthcare administration
- Valid nursing and CPR certification
- Nursing leadership experience
- Excellent knowledge of healthcare legal regulations and hospital procedures
- Ability to lead and develop personnel
- Outstanding communication and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of basic budgeting and financial reporting
What Are the Schooling Requirements for Nurse Administrators?
Upon completing an undergraduate nursing degree program, such as a Bachelor's of Science in Nursing (BSN), and securing RN licensure via the NCLEX-RN exam, nurses can enter a Master's of Science in Nursing (MSN) program. While an MSN is usually sufficient for the role, some nurse administrators pursue a doctoral degree in nursing (DNP). This is a specialty best suited for experienced nurses.
Read more on Master’s in Nursing Administration programs.
Are Any Certifications or Credentials Needed?
Most employers appreciate a nurse administrator with credentials. There are a few certifications available for this type of specialty. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers a Nurse Executive certification and a Nurse Executive-Advanced certification. The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) offers certification in Executive Nursing Practice. Eligibility for these certifications varies, but generally, a nurse must hold a valid RN license, have held an administrative or management position, and have a certain number of recent continuing education credits. Read more for further clarification on nurse executive certifications.
What Does a Nurse Administrator Do?
Nurse administrators are vital to the executive team, overseeing nursing staff and handling personnel matters. They help develop policies and procedures, coordinate between nurses and other departments, and develop budgets. They make departmental decisions and generally set the tone for running things. Attending meetings and communicating with nursing staff and other hospital executives are a large part of their role.
Where Do Nurse Administrators Work?
Nurse administrators are most often employed at hospitals, though they generally work in offices and don't have a patient-facing role. Some nurse administrators oversee multiple hospitals within a system, so they may spend part of their time traveling from hospital to hospital. Nurse administrators may also be found in larger medical facilities, such as long-term care facilities.
Read more in our Expert Guide to Nursing Leadership
What are the Roles and Duties of a Nurse Administrator
Nurse administrators are generally responsible for the following:
- Recruiting, hiring, and training nurses
- Conducting performance evaluations
- Budgeting and reporting financial matters
- Helping to decide what equipment must be purchased
- Developing policies and procedures and making sure staff are compliant
- Acting as a liaison between departments, nursing staff, and hospital executives
- Developing a strategic vision for the hospital or department
Nurse Administrator Salary & Employment
As advanced-practice RNs, nurse administrators earn a median salary of roughly $87,436 annually, though pay can range between $74,744 and $99,975 per year. Salary depends on location, experience, credentials, and other factors.
The nurse administrator job outlook remains promising as the demand for registered nursing grows. Highly skilled and advanced nurses will always be needed for managerial and supervisory roles, and ambitious RNs can look to nursing administration jobs for higher pay and increased responsibility. Additionally, nurses who want more regular hours and are interested in an office-based environment might be suited to a nurse administrator role.
| Average Yearly Salary | |
| Bottom Earners | $74,744 |
| Bottom 25% | $80,792 |
| Median | $87,436 |
| Top 25% | $93,999 |
| Top 10% | $99,975 |
Helpful Organizations, Societies, and Agencies
- American Association of Nurse Executives
- National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration
- Journal of Nursing Administration
