Nurse Executives Provide Leadership for Effective Patient Care
Primarily, nurse executives are responsible for the administration and management of patient care services. Nurse executives oversee the planning and development of policies and procedures for healthcare clinics, hospitals, nursing homes and other types of healthcare facilities.
Essentially, nurse executives focus on the following elements in healthcare administration:
• Collaboration of interdisciplinary health professionals
• Advocacy
• Leadership roles in providing patient care
• Developing networks of long-term care, wellness, ambulatory and acute care
• Consumer partnerships
Nurse Executive Educational Requirements
Most nurse executives will have a Master’s degree and/or a doctorate degree. Their degree could be in nursing administration, hospital administration or equivalent work experience.
Academic programs combined with work experience can help to develop strong leadership and management skills. Critical thinking, decision-making and communication skills are also essential to fulfill the role of a nurse executive.
Places of Employment for Nurse Executives
Common places of employment for nurse executives include hospitals, nursing homes, healthcare clinics and nursing schools. Some nurse executives may also work as consultants.
Nurse executives typically serve in a leadership role to fulfill their organization’s mission. They are responsible for effectively communicating diverse needs, while also encouraging creativity among staff. Nurse executives also bear the responsibility of financial accountability within some organizations.
Establishing ongoing relationships among healthcare professionals is important for fostering a cohesive work environment. Some nurse executives may develop learning opportunities for staff to stay abreast of changes in the medical field. These learning opportunities are also important for staff to maintain memberships and licensing requirements.
Nurse executives have a unique opportunity to shape policies related to health and nursing care; however, they typically have no contact with patients directly.
Average Salary for Nurse Executives
The average salary for nurse executives usually depends on the geographical location, type and size of the organization. Generally, a nurse executive can make at least $180,000 per year.
Career Outlook for Nurse Executives
Over the years, the role of nurse executives has expanded from nursing services to more responsibilities for overall patient services. This evolution in the healthcare industry has increased career prospects for nurse executives.
Many healthcare systems and nursing schools are seeking people with advanced nursing skills to fill leadership roles. Anyone who pursues a career path as a nurse executive will have a number of advancement opportunities.
Positions Similar to Nurse Executives
There are a number of job titles for nurse executives. Positions are typically determined by the scope of functions within an organization. Some of the common positions similar to nurse executives include:
• Chief Nursing Officer
• Director (Nursing, Professional Practice, Emergency Service)
• VP of Patient Care Services
• VP of Nursing
• Faculty Member
• Public Health Strategist
• Nurse Manager or Consultant
Regardless of the job title, nurse executives are considered key personnel in healthcare management. Their management qualifications, administrative skills and knowledge of medicine make nurse executives a valuable asset to senior management teams.
Insurance providers and other affiliated healthcare industries are expanding their executive teams to include nurse executives.