Chief nursing offers are usually Registered Nurses (RNs) who perform administration duties. They monitor work performances in order to guarantee that nurses provide patients with quality care. Chief nursing officers will usually transition from being an RN to a lead nurse who supervises others, according to PayScale. Read below to learn how to become a chief nursing officer who supports subordinates and health care facilities to reach quality goals and performance objectives.
Take on the Right Responsibilities
Working RNs can take advantage of their position to accept leadership and operational responsibilities that will prepare them for their future position. Chief nursing officers are tasked with ensuring that clinical, staffing and patient-care standards are met or exceeded. They advise senior administrators regarding the best practices in patient care and nursing standards. They also work with health care administrators to establish enticing benefit and compensation programs for nurses. Thus, they are involved in the recruitment, training, retention and professional development of nurses. Senior chief nursing officers will manage nursing budgets, establish nursing policies, plan new services and develop patient-care programs. They will also conduct performance improvement activities and participate in cross-departmental decision making.
Hone Your Skills
When the hiring panel interviews for chief nursing officer positions, they expect candidates to have extensive clinical nursing experience and real-world management knowledge. Job candidates will also need to understand current health care trends, changes within the health care industry and the intricate operations of health care facilities. They will also need to demonstrate a working knowledge of state compliance and federal regulatory standards. Based on their work experience, RNs should cite their excellent leadership and mentoring abilities. Employers also may want candidates to be able to lead and motivate others, willingly adapt to change and solve conflicts through proven problem-solving and strategic-thinking skills. Awareness of medical technology improvements and information systems advancements will also be helpful.
Earn a Master’s Degree
Chief nursing officers almost always start out as RNs who are promoted into leadership roles with increasing levels of responsibility. The minimum requirement for supervisory nursing roles is a bachelor’s degree, such as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Management and executive-level positions, such as chief nursing officer, will require a master’s degree, such as the standard Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). These programs promote core competencies that nurse executives can immediately implement at work to achieve change and reach goals. Coursework emphasizes the application of theory, using real-word scenarios and tools. Key executive skills are taught on the subjects of strategic staffing, accountable budgeting, effectively communication and performance assessments.
Become Certified
Chief officer nurses can seek voluntary national certification in nursing management. To illustrate, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers their basic Nurse Executive (NE-BC) and advanced Nurse Executive (NEA-BC) certifications. The NE-BC exam is for RNs with a bachelor’s degree and mid-level administrative experience, but the NEA-BC is for master’s degree holders who are nursing executives or graduate-level faculty. Alternatively, many colleges offer graduate certificates related to nursing management. This is ideal for RNs with a master’s degree in a non-supervisory field. These certificates will teach topics like strategic planning, financial decision-making, organizational theories and HR management.
Related Resource: Nurse Executive
Finally, aspiring chief nursing offers can prepare for their future position by seeking mentoring from qualified experts and by focusing their decision making on improving teamwork, communication and patient experiences.
