To become a certified and state-licensed nursing administrator, you’ll first need to earn a degree from an accredited program. After earning your degree, you’ll next need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is set by the Board of Nursing (BON) in each state. Contact your Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) and request a licensure/registration application. You will need to pay your NRB licensing/registration fees and submit your application materials to take the test.

Finally, you will need to obtain a nursing administrator certification. As mentioned, the CENP certification verifies your skills and lets employers know you demonstrate all the hallmarks of executive nursing leadership. Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a nurse executive certification (NE-BC), which demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to oversee a team of nurses and health care professionals. After passing the NE-BC examination, you’ll be granted the NE-BC credential. It is valid for five years; you can renew it by holding a current license to practice.

The requirements for nurse executive certification include:

●  Having an active registered nurse (RN) license
●  Having a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing
●  Gaining 2,000 or more hours in an administrative, leadership, or management role holding primary responsibility for the daily operations of at least one unit within the past three years
●  Completing at least 30 hours of continuing education in administration, leadership, or management within the past three years

The nursing administrator role is a nurse leadership role, which means extensive education and experience are required to be eligible. The amount of time it takes will vary depending on which degree path you choose and if you’re already practicing as an RN.

For those starting at the beginning of the process, a traditional BSN degree typically takes four years to complete. This would be immediately followed by becoming a registered nurse; the timeline for this varies from person to person. Next, you would need to gain at least one year of on-the-job experience as a registered nurse before pursuing your MSN degree. Earning your MSN degree may take as little as two years, depending on your schedule. After that, you’ll need to get your CENP certification and gain experience in an administrative role. The amount of experience you need will vary, but two years is considered the minimum to become a nursing administrator.

A variety of skills and knowledge are necessary for nurses to be successful in administrative roles that oversee a team of medical professionals.

Nursing administrator skills

Some of the essential skills needed to be effective in the nursing administrator role include:

●  Leadership skills. Nursing administrators set the tone for their health care facilities. They should be able to motivate their employees and lead by example.
●  Interpersonal skills. As part of health care leadership, nursing administrators need to be able to effectively communicate with their employees and on behalf of their facility.
●  Analytical skills. Nursing administrators must always be looking for ways to increase efficiency and improve the level of patient care in their facility. This means regularly analyzing processes and the performance of nursing staff.
●  Detail-orientation. Since nursing administrators routinely are involved with budgeting, staff scheduling, and developing processes and procedures, they must be skilled at paying strict attention to detail.

Nursing administrator duties

Some of the primary duties nursing administrators may perform are:

●  Scheduling shifts for nurses and staff
●  Attending staff meetings
●  Collaborating with hospital leadership to set goals
●  Conducting performance reviews of nursing staff
●  Helping with the professional development of nursing staff
●  Recruiting and hiring nursing staff
●  Managing departmental budgets
●  Staying up to date on compliance and health care regulations

According to PayScale, the median annual salary of nursing administrators is around $89,100 as of 2021, with salaries ranging between $63,000 and $136,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 32% job growth for the health and medical services manager field, which includes nurse administrators, from 2020 to 2030.

Keep in mind that salaries can vary based on factors such as education, experience, and geographic location.

By becoming a nursing administrator, you can put yourself in a position to make a direct impact in the health care system as a leader in your organization. Many online programs are available that can give you the necessary skills for professional success and prepare you for certification. Whether you’re currently an RN or have yet to begin nursing school, our recommendation engine can help you find the right educational path to a career in nursing administration.