How long does it take to become a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

It takes 7 years of professional experience to become a registered nurse supervisor. That is the time it takes to learn specific registered nurse supervisor skills, but does not account for time spent in formal education. If you include the normal education requirements to complete a college degree, then it takes 10 to 12 years years to become a registered nurse supervisor.

Can an RN be a supervisor?

Yes, an RN can be a supervisor. A registered nurse can typically advance their career after several years of relevant work experience and good performance. In general, to become a registered nurse, you need some postsecondary education like an associate's or bachelor's degree in nursing and pass the NCLEX-RN exam to have an active nurse license. For a supervisory role like this, some places of employment may require continuing education such as certifications or a master's degree in nursing.

How much do RN supervisors make?

RN supervisors make around $68,000 yearly or $32.89 hourly. As most jobs go, factors like location and experience can determine your salary. On the lower end of the salary range, they may make around $52,000, typically for entry-level positions. On the higher end, they can make around $88,000, usually for senior-level positions.

What is a nurse supervisor called?

A nurse supervisor is sometimes called a nurse manager. The title may vary depending on the hospital or clinic, but they generally have the same kind of responsibilities. The occupation indicates a level of management such as supervising medical staff, especially the operations of the nursing department, ensuring that they provide the highest quality care for the patients by having evaluation, development, and assigning schedules and patients.

What is a registered nurse supervisor and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Experts

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.,

Kim Raines

A registered nurse supervisor manages a team of nurses in a healthcare facility. They oversee the nursing staff for compliance with established protocols and standards. Registered nurse supervisors also play a key role in hiring and training and evaluating nurses. They collaborate with other healthcare professionals to develop and implement patient care plans, and work to maintain medical records. Additionally, registered nurse supervisors work closely with patients and their families to provide education and support.

What general advice would you give to a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

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.

ScoreRegistered Nurse SupervisorUS Average

Salary

5.8

Avg. Salary $74,174

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 8.94%

Black or African American 11.78%

Hispanic or Latino 8.67%

Unknown 4.24%

White 65.93%

Gender

female 86.79%

male 13.21%

Age - 43

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 - 43

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

Pros

Variety of responsibilities and tasks
Competitive salary and benefits package
Job security and stable employment
Ability to implement change and improve processes
Satisfaction from contributing to a larger healthcare organization

Cons

Exposure to high-risk situations
Limited autonomy due to policies and regulations
Administrative burden and paperwork
Burnout due to heavy workload
Potential for conflict with staff or management.

Newest jobs for Registered Nurse Supervisor in Ashburn, VA

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Key steps to become a registered nurse supervisor

Explore registered nurse supervisor education requirements

Most common registered nurse supervisor degrees

Associate

46.9 %

Bachelor's

36.9 %

Master's

6.8 %

Start to develop specific registered nurse supervisor skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	22.24%
Rehabilitation	7.46%
CPR	6.86%
Acute Care	6.28%
Resident Care	4.68%

Complete relevant registered nurse supervisor training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New registered nurse supervisors 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 registered nurse supervisor based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real registered nurse supervisor resumes.

Obtain the necessary licensing

Becoming a licensed registered nurse supervisor usually require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed registered nurse supervisor in most of states. 43 states require registered nurse supervisors 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	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
Alaska	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Nurse, Licensed Practical
Arkansas	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
California	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Vocational Nurse
Colorado	Degree required	Third-party exam required	Licensed Practical Nurse

Gain additional registered nurse supervisor certifications

Registered nurse supervisor 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 registered nurse supervisor certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

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

More About Certifications

Research registered nurse supervisor duties and responsibilities

Experience in Medicare, Medicaid and private insurance manage care programs.
Initiate rapid response and lead nurse code team until the arrival of the ICU resident team.
Lead staff in an effort to reduce EMR coding errors, from roughly 40 per day to 5.
Manage, coordinate and run MDS program for Medicare/ Medicaid patients for insurance reimbursement in coordination with federal guidelines.

Prepare your registered nurse supervisor resume

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

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a registered nurse supervisor resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

Choose From 10+ Customizable Registered Nurse Supervisor Resume templates

Build a professional Registered Nurse Supervisor resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Registered Nurse Supervisor resume.

Apply for registered nurse supervisor jobs

Now it's time to start searching for a registered nurse supervisor job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

Browse job boards for relevant postings
Consult your professional network
Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
Watch out for job scams

Average registered nurse supervisor salary

The average Registered Nurse Supervisor salary in the United States is $74,174 per year or $36 per hour. Registered nurse supervisor salaries range between $53,000 and $102,000 per year.

Average Registered Nurse Supervisor Salary

$74,174 Yearly

$35.66 hourly

How do registered nurse supervisors rate their job?

-/5

5 Stars

4 Stars

3 Stars

2 Stars

1 Star

Registered Nurse Supervisor reviews

A zippia user wrote a review on Dec 2021

Pros

Caring for patients

Cons

Staffing ratios, unfairness, constant expectations. Healthcare is a business but doesn’t treat nurses like business employees

A zippia user wrote a review on Aug 2020

Pros

helping people and saving lives

Cons

the pay is not good not enough for the lifestyle I would like to live

A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2020

Pros

The feeling I get when helping people.

Cons

Nursing isn’t what it was 12yrs ago when I started. It is all about “family centered care” and not what is actually best for the patient. Not only am I a nurse and caring for the patient, but I’m the house keeper, waitress, and coffee go getter. There is no more respect for nurses and their patients.

What is a registered nurse supervisor and how to become one

What general advice would you give to a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

What are the pros and cons of being a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

Newest jobs for Registered Nurse Supervisor in Ashburn, VA

Registered Nurse Supervisor career paths

Key steps to become a registered nurse supervisor

Explore registered nurse supervisor education requirements

Most common registered nurse supervisor degrees

Start to develop specific registered nurse supervisor skills

Complete relevant registered nurse supervisor training and internships

Obtain the necessary licensing

Gain additional registered nurse supervisor certifications

Research registered nurse supervisor duties and responsibilities

Prepare your registered nurse supervisor resume

Choose From 10+ Customizable Registered Nurse Supervisor Resume templates

Apply for registered nurse supervisor jobs

How Did You Land Your First Registered Nurse Supervisor Job

Average registered nurse supervisor salary

How do registered nurse supervisors rate their job?

Registered Nurse Supervisor reviews

Registered Nurse Supervisor FAQs

How long does it take to become a Registered Nurse Supervisor?

Can an RN be a supervisor?

How much do RN supervisors make?

What is a nurse supervisor called?

Search for registered nurse supervisor jobs

Registered Nurse Supervisor jobs by state