[hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”aboveTheFold” /][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]What Does a Nurse Administrator Do?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse administrators bring the experience, knowledge, and skills gleaned in prior clinical practice to provide operational management and strategic leadership to nursing staff in healthcare organizations. Specific roles and responsibilities may include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Where do Nurse Administrators Work?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Thirty-three percent of nurse administrators work in hospitals, 12% in physicians’ offices, and 10% in residential care facilities. Common duties in each of these workplaces include:[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Hospitals[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Develop and implement departmental procedures, policies, and goals; direct and evaluate nursing staff; prepare reports and budgets.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Physicians’ Offices[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Collaborate with medical and administrative staff; hire and train nurses; manage patient billing and recordkeeping.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”xxs”] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-icon icon=”minus” color=”primary” aria-hidden=”true” /]Residential Care Facilities[/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Supervise nursing staff; oversee finances and facility maintenance; manage residents’ care.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-flex][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Why Become a Nurse Administrator?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The advantages of becoming a nurse administrator include greater opportunities and larger paychecks, but nurses who entered the field to treat patients directly may find themselves too far removed from patient care. RNs can become licensed in two years, but a nursing administrator may need to devote an additional 2-3 years to earning a master’s degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Advantages to Becoming a Nurse Administrator[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Much faster-than-average projected job growth rate of 32% from 2019-2029[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]High annual salaries averaging $110,000 in hospitals, $92,000 in physicians’ offices, and $87,000 in residential care facilities[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Career path options include chief nursing officer, nurse manager, and nursing director[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Fewer physical demands than in traditional nursing roles[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″]Disadvantages to Becoming a Nurse Administrator[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”bullet”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Distance from direct patient care[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]More paperwork and meetings[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Additional education potentially required[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Probability of engagement in conflict resolution[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-flex gap=”xl” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-flex gap=”xs” align=”left” direction=”column”][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Popular Online Programs[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ color=”subtext”]Learn about start dates, transferring credits, availability of financial aid, and more by contacting the universities below.[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-dynamic-experience placement=”belowTheFold” /][/hen-ui-flex][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How to Become a Nurse Administrator[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The path to become a nurse administrator will vary depending on leadership experience. To minimum qualifications include an RN license and BSN but many employers may prefer a graduate degree.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-card] [hen-ui-card-content] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-button variant=”textOnly” href=”/careers/nurse-administrator/”]Learn More About How to Become a Nurse Administrator[/hen-ui-button][/hen-ui-heading] [hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Types of Nurse Administrator Roles[/hen-ui-heading]*SOURCE: PayScale[hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]How Much Do Nurse Administrators Make?[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) lists [hen-ui-link href=”/careers/nurse-administrator/”]nurse administrator salary[/hen-ui-link] data under medical and health services managers. According to the BLS, these nurse leaders earn a median annual salary of $104,280 or an average annual salary of $118,800. Government nurse administrators can expect to earn a median wage of $112,000, followed by hospital nurse leaders at $110,000. Nurse administrators make a median salary of $95,000 at outpatient care centers, $92,000 in physicians’ offices, and $87,000 at nursing and residential care facilities.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]The tables below outline the top-paying states, metropolitan areas, and industries for nurse administrators.[/hen-ui-text][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-link href=”/registered-nursing/best-rn-programs-by-state/”]Top Paying States for Nurse[/hen-ui-link] Administrators[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Top Paying States[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Total Number of Medical and Health Services Managers[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]District of Columbia[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying States”]$150,040[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]1,600[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/new-york/”]New York[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying States”]$147,000[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]25,740[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Hawaii[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying States”]$133,320[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]1,540[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”][hen-ui-link href=”https://nursejournal.org/state/california/”]California[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying States”]$133,040[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]36,940[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Massachusetts[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying States”]$132,960[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]15,810[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top Paying Metropolitan Areas for Nurse Administrators[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Top Paying Metropolitan Areas[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Total Number of Medical and Health Services Managers[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying Metropolitan Areas”]$163,280[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]420[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Vallejo-Fairfield, CA[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying Metropolitan Areas”]$159,190[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]450[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying Metropolitan Areas”]$154,570[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]1,200[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Salinas, CA[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying Metropolitan Areas”]$154,440[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]280[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Hanford-Corcoran, CA[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Top Paying Metropolitan Areas”]$145,340[/hen-ui-table-cell][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Average Salary”]120[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table][hen-ui-table-caption]Top Paying Industries for Nurse Administrators[/hen-ui-table-caption][hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Industry[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Average Salary[/hen-ui-table-head][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-header][hen-ui-table-body][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Pharmaceutical and Medicine Manufacturing[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Industry”]$204,300[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Scientific Research and Development Services[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Industry”]$169,240[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Wholesale Electronic Markets and Agents and Brokers[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Industry”]$162,880[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Industry”]$159,910[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-row][hen-ui-table-head scope=”col”]Chemical Manufacturing[/hen-ui-table-head][hen-ui-table-cell data-title=”Industry”]$155,180[/hen-ui-table-cell][/hen-ui-table-row][/hen-ui-table-body][/hen-ui-table][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Resources for Nurse Administrators[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-list variant=”unordered” bullet-style=”check”] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.aonl.org/” target=”_blank”] American Organization for Nursing Leadership[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] AONL boasts a community of 10,000 nurse leaders and provides links to crisis and coronavirus resources, hosts programs and events, and credentials nurse leaders. Membership is not required to access the job listings, podcasts, and some of the other resources, but it is required to read articles in the bi-monthly magazine and attend free webinars.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://careers.aonl.org/” target=”_blank”] AONL Career Center[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] The career center lists job postings for positions in nurse leadership, including administrative nurse manager, chief nursing officer, and clinical director. Job seekers can browse employment opportunities as guests, but those who set up an account can post their resumes, apply for jobs through the site, and sign up for job alerts.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.ache.org/career-resource-center/special-groups” target=”_blank”] American College of Healthcare Executives[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] ACHE welcomes MHA students, seasoned professionals, and healthcare leaders transitioning from military service. ACHE features communities, forums, and networks, including Asian Healthcare Leaders, healthcare consultants, and early careerists, and offers scholarships and educational resources for students. Students pay less than half the dues of regular membership.[/hen-ui-list-item] [hen-ui-list-item][hen-ui-heading variant=”h3″][hen-ui-link href=”https://www.oonl.org/” target=”_blank”] Organization of Nurse Leaders[/hen-ui-link][/hen-ui-heading] New England-based ONL seeks to advance a culture of health and serves its members with educational and networking events, committee opportunities, recognition awards, and knowledge resources, such as position statements, job postings, and links to information relevant to nurse leaders. The ONL Foundation invests in leaders who aim to transform nursing care.[/hen-ui-list-item][/hen-ui-list][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Frequently Asked Questions About Nurse Administrators[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-accordion variant=”no-background”] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How long does it take to become a nurse administrator?” expanded=”true”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Nurse administrators must hold at least a bachelor’s degree. Most BSN programs take four years to complete; however, accelerated or [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/nursing-bridge-programs/”]bridge programs[/hen-ui-link] admit licensed RNs. An MSN may be required by some employers, which adds 2-3 more years to the educational timeline. Nurse administrators should also log a year or two of clinical work as an RN.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How do I get a job in healthcare administration with no experience?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]Students can pursue a [hen-ui-link href=”/articles/nursing-vs-healthcare-management/”]master of healthcare administration[/hen-ui-link] (MHA), which does not require a healthcare management background for admission. An MHA focuses on the business of healthcare and educates graduates on government regulations, healthcare ethics, health informatics, and insurance reimbursement systems, along with leadership and strategic planning.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”How can I make a career change to nursing administration?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]RNs can streamline their path to a nursing administration career through [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/best-online-rn-to-msn-programs/”]RN-to-MSN bridge[/hen-ui-link] programs. Students can graduate in 2-3 years rather than spending four years earning a BSN and another 2-3 pursuing an MSN. Many programs offer nursing administration concentrations, often called nurse executive or leadership tracks.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item] [hen-ui-accordion-item title=”What can you do with an MSN/MBA?”] [hen-ui-text-stack gap=”sm”] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″]A dual [hen-ui-link href=”/degrees/msn/best-online-msn-mba-programs/”]MSN/MBA degree[/hen-ui-link] provides another pathway into nursing administration and leadership. The three-year curriculum typically includes coursework in accounting, financial management, and healthcare informatics. Graduates obtain nursing administration jobs as nurse managers, chief nursing officers, departmental directors, and directors of compliance. These positions generally command high salaries.[/hen-ui-text] [/hen-ui-text-stack] [/hen-ui-accordion-item][/hen-ui-accordion][hen-ui-heading variant=”h2″]Reviewed by:[/hen-ui-heading][hen-ui-flex direction=”column” gap=”lg”][hen-ui-expert-bio name=”Anna-Lise Krippaehne, DNP, FNP-BC” img-src=”https://res.cloudinary.com/highereducation/image/upload/c_fill,g_face,h_300,w_300,f_auto,fl_lossy,q_auto:eco/e_grayscale/v1599604221/experts/Anna-Lise_Krippaehne.jpg” img-alt=”Anna-Lise Krippaehne, DNP, FNP-BC” layout=”horizontal” background=”white” /][hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Anna-Lise Krippaehne is a board-certified family nurse practitioner at Oregon Health & Science University’s Family Practice Department in Portland, where she practices with a distinct interest in preventative care and health promotion. She earned her BSN and DNP from the University of Portland.[/hen-ui-text] [hen-ui-text variant=”b4″ slot=”contentRight”]Krippaehne is a paid member of our Healthcare Review Partner Network. [hen-ui-link href=”/healthcare-review-partners//”]Learn more about our review partners[/hen-ui-link].[/hen-ui-text][/hen-ui-flex]

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