Nurse Managers

Nurse managers are leaders in the health field. They are the professionals responsible for managing the staff that cares for patients. They are in charge of the operation of their department or unit, and they perform administrative duties related to patient care.

Nurse managers are responsible for the hiring, firing, and scheduling of their employees, and ultimately for the smooth operation of their entire unit. Nurse managers must work well with people and foster teamwork among their staff. Paperwork is another responsibility, whether a report or statistics.

Nurse managers are responsible for many aspects of the smooth operation of their unit. Some nurse managers are working nurse managers, meaning that they also care directly for patients along with managing the department. The size of the facility usually determines whether the nurse manager also cares for patients.

Nurse managers work long hours and are usually on call for situations that might arise. In addition, downsizing at some health care facilities and mergers of institutions may mean additional responsibilities for nurse managers.