Reasons to Hire a Nurse Manager

A nurse manager, formerly known as a head nurse, is the registered nurse responsible for the business and clinical operations of a particular nursing unit, such as an emergency department or a pediatric unit.

Identification

• According to Nurse Week, a nurse manager may supervise more than 100 staff members, assume fiscal accountability for the operations of his unit, hire and fire personnel, and establish strategic goals for his department in conjunction with other middle managers.

Features

• A nurse manager plays a key role in balancing quality of care versus cost, dealing with multiple players within the health care organization, and facilitating decision-making when those players bring conflicting agendas to the table.

Functions

• Nurse managers fill a middle-management role within a hospital or other type of health care organizations. A nurse manager represents her department when organizational decisions are made, and collaborates with other middle managers to achieve organizational goals.

Effects

• According to the Healthcare Performance Institute, a good nurse manager uses his clinical knowledge and leadership skills to ensure that patients receive the best possible individualized care in the most effective and efficient way possible.

Considerations

• The Healthcare Performance Institute says nurse managers set the tone for the healthcare system and serve as the backbone for the organization.