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Hospital supervisor vs nurse manager

The differences between hospital supervisors and nurse managers can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 1-2 years to become a hospital supervisor, becoming a nurse manager takes usually requires 4-6 years. Additionally, a nurse manager has an average salary of $83,684, which is higher than the $41,899 average annual salary of a hospital supervisor.

The top three skills for a hospital supervisor include patients, HR and hospital policy. The most important skills for a nurse manager are patients, home health, and CPR.

Hospital supervisor vs nurse manager overview

Hospital SupervisorNurse Manager
Yearly salary$41,899$83,684
Hourly rate$20.14$40.23
Growth rate6%28%
Number of jobs14,851380,264
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Average age4447
Years of experience26

What does a hospital supervisor do?

A hospital supervisor has the important responsibility of supervising and evaluating the work activities of hospital personnel. This includes medical, nursing, technical, service, and maintenance personnel. Their job is to establish and supervise work schedules to ensure shifts are always covered. They are also in charge of delegating responsibilities to staff and giving orientation and training to new staff. A hospital supervisor is also always on the lookout for areas that need quality improvement.

What does a nurse manager do?

The primary role of nurse managers is to supervise the nursing staff in a clinical or hospital setting. They are the ones who are in charge of patient care, setting work schedules, and making budgetary and management decisions. They are also responsible for making personnel decisions, coordinating meetings, and creating safe environments that promote patient engagement and aid the healthcare team's work. Their role is vital in promoting a culture in which team members contribute to professional growth and patient outcomes.

Hospital supervisor vs nurse manager salary

Hospital supervisors and nurse managers have different pay scales, as shown below.

Hospital SupervisorNurse Manager
Average salary$41,899$83,684
Salary rangeBetween $27,000 And $63,000Between $60,000 And $115,000
Highest paying CityWashington, DCLas Vegas, NV
Highest paying stateCaliforniaNevada
Best paying companyRSM USBD
Best paying industryHealth CareHealth Care

Differences between hospital supervisor and nurse manager education

There are a few differences between a hospital supervisor and a nurse manager in terms of educational background:

Hospital SupervisorNurse Manager
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 51%Bachelor's Degree, 45%
Most common majorNursingNursing
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaUniversity of Michigan - Ann Arbor

Hospital supervisor vs nurse manager demographics

Here are the differences between hospital supervisors' and nurse managers' demographics:

Hospital SupervisorNurse Manager
Average age4447
Gender ratioMale, 36.1% Female, 63.9%Male, 13.5% Female, 86.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 10.7% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 9.8% Asian, 8.9% White, 65.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Black or African American, 12.1% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 14.5% Asian, 7.6% White, 60.8% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%
LGBT Percentage9%12%

Differences between hospital supervisor and nurse manager duties and responsibilities

Hospital supervisor example responsibilities.

  • Interact successfully with regulatory and oversight agencies, which lead to more streamline operations of complex healthcare reimbursement programs.
  • Maintain the cleanliness of the food court in the international concourse in Hartfield-Jackson airport.
  • Maintain high standards of sanitation and expect levels of cleanliness and appearance at all times.
  • Work in labor and delivery, medical, surgical, psychiatry, rehabilitation, and administration.
  • Work in accordance with HIPPA regulations and maintain patient confidentiality.
  • Coordinate emergency helicopter services to and from the facility of critically ill or injure patients.
  • Show more

Nurse manager example responsibilities.

  • Case manage workers compensation cases, administer drug testing, surveillance testing, minor 1st aid and CPR instruction.
  • Assess and manage various allergic and life threatening reactions of chemotherapy medications.
  • Manage staff of medical personnel providing care for telemetry, geriatric and general medicine patients.
  • Involve in utilization review and chart audits for all appropriate documentation for medicaid, Medicare and manage care organizations.
  • Manage surgical recovery patients including vascular, ENT, GI urological and neurological cases, coronary bypass surgery patients.
  • Maintain current ACLS and BLS certifications.
  • Show more

Hospital supervisor vs nurse manager skills

Common hospital supervisor skills
  • Patients, 31%
  • HR, 8%
  • Hospital Policy, 7%
  • Patient Safety, 7%
  • Wine, 4%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%
Common nurse manager skills
  • Patients, 22%
  • Home Health, 8%
  • CPR, 4%
  • Customer Service, 4%
  • Performance Improvement, 3%
  • Surgery, 3%

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