Becoming a leader as a nurse isn’t just about communication and critical thinking skills, it’s also about a range of other important factors. This guide is here to tell you all about them.
If you’re a nurse with the ambition to become a healthcare manager, then you’ve come to the right place. Many nurses are happy with their roles as they are, but others have the drive to go that extra bit further. Because you fall into the latter category, you’re going to need some help along the way. The tips and tricks discussed directly below are designed to help you advance your nursing career and enter different management roles. No matter where you live or what your current experience levels are, you’ll be sure to find them useful.
Return to Education
As an existing nurse, you’ll already have your BA degree in nursing. In addition to this, you’ll have done training courses, too. In your mind, after you received your nursing degree, you might have automatically assumed that it was the end of your education journey. Most other nurses assume the same, too.
However, in the 2020s, thousands of nurses have already returned to education for one simple reason: to gain a master’s degree. A master’s degree is the first step to take on your healthcare management journey. For nurses, there are plenty of management-related master’s degrees to choose from, such as:
- Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA)
- Master of Science in Nursing
- MSN Clinical Nurse Leader Specialization
Currently, a lot of ambitious nurses are choosing the online version of a Master’s in Health Administration that’s available at https://onlinemha.bc.edu/. From analytics to financial management, the program covers a vast amount of ground that will prepare you for an exciting career in healthcare management.
Because you currently work as a nurse, studying an online MHA program is the best possible option for you. It provides you with:
- Flexibility
- More space for time management
- Less stress, as you don’t have to worry about physically attending campus or committing to full-time education
Sounds good? Great, let’s move on to the next tip.
Start Developing Your Management Skills
When you enter a management role in the healthcare field, you’ll need to deal with more work and a lot more people. Remember, you’ll be leading different teams along the way, whether they’re big or small, so you need to be well-equipped for the job. This is why the best healthcare managers work on developing these skills:
- Communication
- Listening
- Planning
- Decision-making
- Professionalism
Currently, you might work under one or multiple different managers in your healthcare practice or unit. Make sure to absorb as much knowledge as you can from them and watch how they handle their roles.
Aim for a Specific Management Role
From public hospitals to private practices, there are many different management roles that you can choose from. Ideally, you should be aiming for a specific one. Here are some good examples:
- Administrative Manager
- Team Leader
- Ward Manager
- Director of Nursing
- Sister
Of course, some roles such as Director of Nursing, are usually only obtainable after gaining ten to twenty years of experience within the field. This is something important to bear in mind.
Be Persistent
Finally, make sure you’re persistent on your journey. Making it as a healthcare manager requires a lot of time, patience, and persistence. However, after returning to education and following the other tips in this guide, you should be able to do it.
