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How to hire a registered nurse manager

Registered nurse manager hiring summary. Here are some key points about hiring registered nurse managers 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 registered nurse manager is $1,633.
  • Small businesses spend an average of $1,105 per registered nurse manager on training each year, while large companies spend $658.
  • There are currently 267,405 registered nurse managers in the US and 479,983 job openings.
  • New York, NY, has the highest demand for registered nurse managers, with 126 job openings.
  • New York, NY has the highest concentration of registered nurse managers.

How to hire a registered nurse manager, step by step

To hire a registered nurse manager, consider the skills and experience you are looking for in a candidate, allocate a budget for the position, and post and promote the job opening to reach potential candidates. Follow these steps to hire a registered nurse manager:

Here's a step-by-step registered nurse manager hiring guide:

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

What does a registered nurse manager do?

A registered nurse manager is responsible for supervising medical staff, especially the operations of the nursing department, ensuring that they provide the highest quality care for the patients. Registered nurse managers recruit and train nurse staff, assist in administering medications and medical procedures, respond to the patients' inquiries and concerns, and develop patient care plans. They also manage the patients' medical records, oversee budget reports, and enforce strict safety guidelines and protocols for the medical personnel.

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

    Before you post your registered nurse manager job, you should take the time to determine what type of worker your business needs. While certain jobs definitely require a full-time employee, it's sometimes better to find a registered nurse manager for hire on a part-time basis or as a contractor.

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

    A registered nurse manager's background is also an important factor in determining whether they'll be a good fit for the position. For example, registered nurse managers 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.

    This list shows salaries for various types of registered nurse managers.

    Type of Registered Nurse ManagerDescriptionHourly rate
    Registered Nurse ManagerRegistered 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.$25-48
    Psychiatric Registered NurseA registered psychiatric nurse works alongside mental health experts to develop and administer psychiatric treatment plans according to the patients' needs. Among their responsibilities include gathering and organizing patient information, studying the patients' medical histories, conducting interviews and assessments, providing counseling, administering medicine, and restraining unsettled patients... Show more$21-56
    Nurse Case ManagerA nurse case manager's role focuses on providing advice and medication to patients in an outpatient clinic or hospital. Typically, their responsibilities revolve around conducting extensive assessments, discussing essential matters to patients and families, devising efficient health care plans, coordinating with health care experts to share patients' progress, determining the needed care, and performing follow-up services... Show more$23-46
  2. Create an ideal candidate profile

    Common skills:
    • Patients
    • Home Health
    • Care Management
    • CPR
    • Customer Service
    • Care Coordination
    • Primary Care
    • RN Care
    • Rehabilitation
    • Discharge Planning
    • Social Work
    • Resident Care
    • Excellent Interpersonal
    • Compassion
    Check all skills
    Responsibilities:
    • Manage day-to-day operations of regulatory compliance unit responsible for multiple Medicare, Medicaid and commercial products.
    • Case manager for individuals recently discharge from the hospital as well as individuals having difficulty managing their diabetes.
    • Manage patient pain relief and sedation by providing pharmacological and non-pharmacological intervention, monitor patient response and record care plans accordingly.
    • Educate residents and their family members regarding diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and discharge planning.
    • Provide one on one preoperative orthopedic teaching for patients preparing for upcoming orthopedic surgery and rehabilitation.
    • Educated/Counsele patients regarding prenatal care/labor, sexually transmit diseases, contraception, surgical procedures, self-breast exams, and disease management.
    More registered nurse manager duties
  3. Make a budget

    Including a salary range in your registered nurse manager job description is one of the best ways to attract top talent. A registered nurse manager can vary based on:

    • Location. For example, registered nurse managers' average salary in kentucky is 51% less than in california.
    • Seniority. Entry-level registered nurse managers 47% less than senior-level registered nurse managers.
    • Certifications. A registered nurse manager with certifications usually earns a higher salary.
    • Company. Working for an established firm or a new start-up company can make a big difference in a registered nurse manager's salary.

    Average registered nurse manager salary

    $74,459yearly

    $35.80 hourly rate

    Entry-level registered nurse manager salary
    $54,000 yearly salary
    Updated December 27, 2025

    Average registered nurse manager salary by state

    RankStateAvg. salaryHourly rate
    1California$117,844$57
    2Nevada$95,271$46
    3New York$95,130$46
    4Maine$93,038$45
    5District of Columbia$91,504$44
    6Oregon$89,129$43
    7Massachusetts$87,104$42
    8Washington$86,829$42
    9Arizona$84,069$40
    10Pennsylvania$77,867$37
    11Michigan$74,938$36
    12Maryland$74,788$36
    13Oklahoma$73,880$36
    14Minnesota$73,703$35
    15Colorado$73,295$35
    16Illinois$73,247$35
    17Texas$72,078$35
    18North Carolina$70,850$34
    19Tennessee$70,144$34
    20Wisconsin$69,229$33

    Average registered nurse manager salary by company

  4. Writing a registered nurse manager job description

    A job description for a registered nurse manager role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a registered nurse manager job description:

    Registered nurse manager job description example

    • Up to $10,000 Sign On Bonus
    • Student Loan Repayment Program via Sofi; up to $20K for RNs
    • Tuition Reimbursement
    • License Renewal Support
    • 401K Retirement Plan
    • Employee Assistance Programs
    • Voluntary Lifestyle Discounts; including roadside assistance, tax helpline, legal services, ID protection, and more.

    POSITION PURPOSE


    The RN manager of Womens Services is the frontline leader of the department and responsible for flow management, hiring qualified staff, and assuring all staff meet the competencies required to be accountable and responsible for the effective delivery of competent, compassionate, and efficient patient care in Labor and Delivery, Postpartum and Nursery. The RN Manager assists the department Director with the implementation and evaluation of departmental goals and all performance improvement activities. Ensures that hospital resources are being used in the most efficient manner. Assigns patients to appropriate health practitioners. May perform other administrative and clinical functions as necessary. A positive attitude and the ability to cultivate a positive work environment are a must.

    POSITION QUALIFICATIONS

    Education: Must be a graduate of an approved school of nursing as evidenced by verification of state licensure.

    Diploma or transcripts required upon hire.

    Experience: Prefer three to five years of clinical experience in a hospital or medically related environment. One year manager/supervisor experience preferred.

    Licenses/Certificates: Current Tennessee or Compact State registered nurse license required. BLS certification required (AHA or Red Cross). Fetal Monitoring course, NRP, ACLS certification within six months of hire.

    Skills:

    General Responsibilities:

    Observe professional ethics in maintaining confidential information acquired concerning the personal, financial, medical, or employment status or patients of Tennova and their families.

    Must follow and enforce accepted safety practices for patients and the hospital.

    Participate in Performance improvement activities.

    Utilize the nursing process to oversee and provide age specific patient care.

    Communicate in an acceptable and easily understood manner.

    Develops, implements, and updates plans of care.

    Educate and adhere to the patient bill of rights.

  5. Post your job

    There are a few common ways to find registered nurse managers for your business:

    • Promoting internally or recruiting from your existing workforce.
    • Ask for referrals from friends, family members, and current employees.
    • Attend job fairs at local colleges to meet candidates with the right educational background.
    • Use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter to recruit passive job-seekers.
    Post your job online:
    • Post your registered nurse manager job on Zippia to find and attract quality registered nurse manager candidates.
    • Use niche websites such as healthcarejobsite, health jobs nationwide, hospitalcareers, medreps.com.
    • Post a job on free websites.
  6. Interview candidates

    During your first interview to recruit registered nurse managers, 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.

    You should also ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match the ideal candidate profile you developed earlier. Candidates good enough for the next step can complete 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 registered nurse manager

    Once you've selected the best registered nurse manager 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 good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

    After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new registered nurse manager. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

  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 registered nurse manager?

Recruiting registered nurse managers involves both the one-time costs of hiring and the ongoing costs of adding a new employee to your team. Your spending during the hiring process will mostly be on things like promoting the job on job boards, reviewing and interviewing candidates, and onboarding the new hire. Ongoing costs will obviously involve the employee's salary, but also may include things like benefits.

You can expect to pay around $74,459 per year for a registered nurse manager, 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 registered nurse managers in the US typically range between $25 and $48 an hour.

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