What is a nurse manager and how to become one

Q: Charge Nurse vs. Nurse Manager

A charge nurse provides patient care and also has administrative responsibilities, while a nurse manager focuses more on administrative duties. A charge nurse is a registered nurse who oversees a department of nurses. They require clinical and managerial skills to care for patients while also providing guidance and leadership to other nurses who are working with patients. This can be a static, full-time position in some health care facilities, or it may rotate among nurses by shift.

Q: How do I become a nurse manager?

To become a nurse manager, you typically need a college degree, certification, and experience. Most employers ask for a bachelor's degree in nursing. It would be advantageous to also take business courses. Also, you must pass the NCLEX-RN exam to earn your nurse license.

Q: How long does it take to become a nurse manager?

It takes about six to seven years to become a nurse manager. Typically, you need a bachelor's degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to become a registered nurse before you can be considered for a managerial position. That time is usually about four years. Also, you need to gain clinical nursing experience, usually at least three years, before you're qualified.

Q: How much do nursing managers get paid?

Nursing managers get paid around $80,000 per year or about $38.51 hourly. On the lower end of the salary range, they may only make around $61,000. On the higher end, they can earn an average salary of $104,000. As most jobs go, factors like location, company, and experience can determine your pay.

Q: What is the difference between a charge nurse and a nurse manager?

The difference between a charge nurse and a nurse manager is the level of responsibility and leadership. Nurse managers are the liaisons between upper management and nurses on the floor. They coordinate not only nurses but others in their unit, such as doctors and support staff. They may also handle more administrative duties such as overseeing budgets and handling internal communications across departments.

Q: Who is above a nurse manager?

Upper management nurses like directors and chief officers are above nurse managers. At the top of the typical hierarchy in nursing is the chief nursing officer (CNO) or also known as the chief nursing executive (CNE). This person is responsible for all nursing services across the hospital or healthcare unit and reports to the CEO.

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted expert

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

A nurse manager oversees the daily operations of a healthcare unit, such as a hospital ward or clinic. They manage nursing staff, ensure effective patient care, and maintain high standards of quality and safety. Nurse managers also play a key role in budgeting, resource allocation, and strategic planning. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop policies and procedures that promote the best outcomes. Additionally, nurse managers may recruit, hire, and train new nursing staff.

What general advice would you give to a nurse manager?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreNurse ManagerUS Average

Salary

6.5

Avg. Salary $83,684

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level

7.1

Growth rate 28%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity

3.7

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.72%

Asian 7.60%

Black or African American 12.14%

Hispanic or Latino 14.48%

Unknown 4.27%

White 60.78%

Gender

female 86.52%

male 13.48%

Age - 47

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 47

Stress level

7.1

Stress level is high

7.1 - high

Complexity level

8.8

Complexity level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work life balance

4.9

Work life balance is fair

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a nurse manager?

Pros

Higher salary compared to staff nurses
Ability to develop and implement policies and procedures
Ability to implement change and improve processes
More autonomy in decision-making and problem-solving
Ability to mentor and coach other nurses

Cons

More administrative tasks and less direct patient care
Need to balance budget constraints with patient care needs
Difficulties in managing conflicts within the team
Need to manage staffing shortages and resource allocation
Exposure to legal and ethical issues related to healthcare management

Key steps to become a nurse manager

Explore nurse manager education requirements

Most common nurse manager degrees

Bachelor's

44.7 %

Associate

32.4 %

Master's

13.8 %

Start to develop specific nurse manager skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	22.07%
Home Health	7.71%
CPR	4.01%
Customer Service	3.69%
Performance Improvement	3.19%

Complete relevant nurse manager training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New nurse managers learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a nurse manager based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real nurse manager resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed nurse manager usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed nurse manager in most of states. 43 states require nurse managers to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.

State	Education	Exam	License url
Alabama	Degree required	State exam required	Registered Nurse (RN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Registered
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Registered Nurse (RN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Registered
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Registered Nurse

Gain additional nurse manager certifications

Nurse manager certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific nurse manager certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

The most common certifications for nurse managers include Certified Nurse Assistant (CNA) and Medical Assistant.

More About Certifications

Research nurse manager duties and 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.

Prepare your nurse manager resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your nurse manager resume.

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