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How to hire a nurse administrator

Nurse administrator hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring nurse administrators in the United States:

  • HR departments typically spend 15% of their expenses on recruitment.
  • It usually takes about 12 weeks for a new employee to reach full productivity levels.
  • It typically takes 36-42 days to fill a job opening.
  • The median cost to hire a nurse administrator is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per nurse administrator on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 25,542 nurse administrators in the US and 619,218 job openings.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for nurse administrators, with 28 job openings.
  • Houston, TX has the highest concentration of nurse administrators.

How to hire a nurse administrator, step by step

To hire a nurse administrator, you should clearly understand the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, and allocate a budget for the position. You will also need to post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to hire a nurse administrator:

Here's a step-by-step nurse administrator hiring guide:

  • Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
  • Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
  • Step 3: Make a budget
  • Step 4: Write a nurse administrator job description
  • Step 5: Post your job
  • Step 6: Interview candidates
  • Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new nurse administrator
  • Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a nurse administrator do?

Nurse Administrators are responsible for the coordination of all operational and administrative tasks relating to the nursing team. They are responsible for the retention, hiring, and firing of nursing staff, creating budgets, authorizing spending, ensuring regulatory guidelines compliance, implementing staff mentorship sessions, and accomplishing patient satisfaction, safety, cost savings, and efficiency objectives. Other duties include preparing reports, attending meetings, supervising fundraising projects, and forming partnerships with the academic and medical community.

Learn more about the specifics of what a nurse administrator does
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  1. Identify your hiring needs

    Before you start hiring a nurse administrator, identify what type of worker you actually need. Certain positions might call for a full-time employee, while others can be done by a part-time worker or contractor.

    Determine employee vs contractor status
    Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

    A nurse administrator's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, nurse administrators from different industries or fields will have radically different experiences and will bring different viewpoints to the role. You also need to consider the candidate's previous level of experience to make sure they'll be comfortable with the job's level of seniority.

    The following list breaks down different types of nurse administrators and their corresponding salaries.

    Type of Nurse AdministratorDescriptionHourly rate
    Nurse AdministratorRegistered nurses (RNs) provide and coordinate patient care, educate patients and the public about various health conditions, and provide advice and emotional support to patients and their family members.$23-51
    Psychiatric NurseA Psychiatric Nurses role is to supervise the medication and treatment of patients diagnosed with mental disabilities, illnesses, or distresses. They have an essential role in the administration of psychiatric treatment and care.$20-47
    Consultant NurseA Consultant Nurse is responsible for providing healthcare consultations and technical advice to patients. This job also involves consulting with nursing groups about professional and educational problems.$24-48
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Acute Care
    • Direct Patient Care
    • Infection Control
    • Rehabilitation
    • Quality Patient Care
    • Hospital Policies
    • CPR
    • Home Health
    • Compassion
    • Oversight
    • Medication Administration
    • Indirect Supervision
    • IV
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
    • Instruct employees in first aid, safety, CPR, growth and development of children and nutrition.
    • Care planning and coordinating with the MDS team on restraints, psychoactive medications, infections, falls and restraints.
    • Make referrals for medical treatment: and follow-up with psychiatric rehabilitation programs, treating physicians, pharmacies and other treatment collaterals.
    • Make referrals for medical treatment and follow-up with psychiatric rehabilitation programs.
    • Administer intravenous medications for conscious sedation and monitor patients during in office procedures per protocol.
    More nurse administrator duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in the nurse administrator job description is a good way to get more applicants. A nurse administrator salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

    For example, the average salary for a nurse administrator in Arkansas may be lower than in California, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level nurse administrator. Additionally, a nurse administrator with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

    Average nurse administrator salary

    $72,224yearly

    $34.72 hourly rate

    Entry-level nurse administrator salary
    $48,000 yearly salary
    Updated January 21, 2026

    Average nurse administrator salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$113,012$54
    2District of Columbia$96,890$47
    3Michigan$85,411$41
    4New York$82,839$40
    5Massachusetts$81,814$39
    6Texas$74,074$36
    7Maryland$72,089$35
    8Ohio$69,820$34
    9Illinois$68,766$33
    10Minnesota$67,440$32
    11Indiana$56,235$27
    12Florida$54,008$26
    13Missouri$53,903$26
    14Louisiana$53,234$26
    15Nebraska$52,433$25
    16Mississippi$50,011$24
    17Kansas$47,540$23
    18South Carolina$47,119$23

    Average nurse administrator salary by company

    RankCompanyAverage salaryHourly rateJob openings
    1Community Health Systems$118,135$56.80958
    2Providence Health & Services$110,993$53.36386
    3Maine Health/maine Mental Health Partners$108,930$52.37129
    4Valley Presbyterian Hospital$108,268$52.058
    5Medical Billing$106,730$51.31
    6CLAYTON HEALTH SYSTEMS INC$105,448$50.70
    7Tift Regional Medical Center$105,056$50.51
    8Dignity Health$103,541$49.78664
    9UTMB HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS$103,538$49.78246
    10Trinity Health$103,491$49.762,229
    11HCSC$101,771$48.939
    12Baylor Scott & White Health$99,729$47.95496
    13Heritage Valley Health System$99,320$47.7517
    14Adventist HealthCare$98,867$47.5369
    15CHRISTUS Health$98,624$47.42879
    16St. Mary's Medical Center$98,607$47.4118
    17UofL Hospital$97,023$46.6552
    18Sutter Health$96,898$46.59218
    19Texas Health Resources$96,640$46.46312
    20Health First$96,400$46.3560
  4. Writing a nurse administrator job description

    A good nurse administrator job description should include a few things:

    • Summary of the role
    • List of responsibilities
    • Required skills and experience

    Including a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager is also appreciated by candidates. Here's an example of a nurse administrator job description:

    Nurse administrator job description example

    An exciting opportunity to join the a prestigious hospital system and highly ranked Ambulatory Center by Newsweek is now available for an experienced Ambulatory Surgery Nurse Administrator in Raleigh,NC!

    The Nurse Administrator of Ambulatory Services will join a major hospital system, physician partners and experts in managing ambulatory surgery centers.The Ambulatory Surgery Nurse Administrator will join a team that is passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to the community. This innovative ambulatory center provides a wide network of dedicated, highly trained and skilled staff and its affiliates. Their Surgical Services include but not limited to General Surgery, Otolaryngology (ENT), Orthopedics, Hand, Foot/Ankle, Pain Management and Urology.

    The Nurse Administrator Ambulatory Surgery Center will oversee the overall function of the surgery center. The Nurse Administrator will manage staff and promote a positive work environment. The Nurse Administrator will also demonstrate excellent leadership skills while managing daily tasks and serving as a mentor.The RN Ambulatory Surgery Director for this exemplary facility will oversee the overall development and daily operations of the staff and patient care, budgeting, and policy of the Ambulatory Surgical Service department. The Ambulatory Nurse Director will lead the day-to-day operations of eight surgical rooms and four procedure rooms.

    The Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator with this reputable facility will perform an executive role in the day-to-day operations and overall flow of this facility. This Ambulatory Surgery Center Administrator will supervise and work closely with the Business Office Manager, physicians,nurse leaders and other healthcare professionals to maintain efficiency and organization.

    Raleigh is often described as one of the Southeast's most unique and high-spirited cities that blends tradition with modern living. Known as the “City of Oaks” for its abundance of oak trees, Raleigh is ranked #6 as one of the best places to live in the country by U.S. News and World Report.

    With a booming job market combined with low cost-of-living and the experience all four seasons, this city is perfect for single professionals and starting and raising a family.
    The reputable health care system offers competitive compensation, benefits and opportunities for advancement. With a supportive department and learning culture, join a team that cares and will advance your career to the next level. Apply Today!
  5. Post your job

    There are various strategies that you can use to find the right nurse administrator for your business:

    • Consider promoting from within or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to find candidates who meet your education requirements.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to reach potential job candidates.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your nurse administrator job on Zippia to find and recruit nurse administrator candidates who meet your exact specifications.
    • Use field-specific websites.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit nurse administrators, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

    It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

    The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

  7. Send a job offer and onboard your new nurse administrator

    Once you've selected the best nurse administrator candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

    It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

    To prepare for the new nurse administrator first day, you should share an onboarding schedule with them that covers their first period on the job. You should also quickly complete any necessary paperwork, such as employee action forms and onboarding documents like I-9, benefits enrollment, and federal and state tax forms. Finally, Human Resources must ensure a new employee file is created for internal record keeping.

  8. Go through the hiring process checklist

    • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
    • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
    • Define job responsibilities and requirements
    • Establish budget and timeline
    • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
    • Write job description
    • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
    • Promote the job internally
    • Process applications through applicant tracking system
    • Review resumes and cover letters
    • Shortlist candidates for screening
    • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
    • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
    • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
    • Conduct background checks on top candidates
    • Check references of top candidates
    • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
    • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
    • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
    • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
    • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
    • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)
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How much does it cost to hire a nurse administrator?

There are different types of costs for hiring nurse administrators. One-time cost per hire for the recruitment process. Ongoing costs include employee salary, training, onboarding, benefits, insurance, and equipment. It is essential to consider all of these costs when evaluating hiring a new nurse administrator employee.

You can expect to pay around $72,224 per year for a nurse administrator, as this is the median yearly salary nationally. This can vary depending on what state or city you're hiring in. If you're hiring for contract work or on a per-project basis, hourly rates for nurse administrators in the US typically range between $23 and $51 an hour.

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