Nurse manager responsibilities

Use this Nurse Manager job description to advertise your vacancies and find qualified candidates. Feel free to modify responsibilities and requirements based on your needs.

Nurse Manager responsibilities include:

  • Hiring and training new staff members
  • Supervising staff during shifts
  • Creating a budget for the department

Job brief

We are looking for a Nurse Manager to join our team and help train our existing nursing staff, as well as aid our team in hiring new staff members as needed.

Nurse Manager responsibilities include setting the standard of care in the healthcare facility, managing department budgets and providing support for Nurses as needed.

Ultimately, you will work with Nurses in your department to ensure they are trained as needed and supervise new hires throughout your shift.

Responsibilities

  • Create goals and objectives for the department or facility and make sure they are met by the staff
  • Communicate with staff and department heads
  • Keep and organize records of the particular facility 
  • Recruit and train nurses and other health professionals
  • Create work schedules for nurses
  • Ensure the facility is compliant with current laws
  • Improve the quality and efficiency of the level of care delivered to patients

Requirements and skills

  • Proven work experience as a Nurse Manager or similar role
  • Excellent verbal and written communication
  • Strong attention to detail
  • Ability to work with a variety of health care professionals and patients
  • Extensive clinical skills for specific units
  • Ability to lead and motivate others
  • Relevant training and/or certifications as a Nurse Manager

Frequently asked questions

What does a Nurse Manager do?

A Nurse Manager is responsible for managing the human and financial resources of their nursing unit to ensure patient satisfaction while maintaining a safe environment for staff members.

What are the duties and responsibilities of a Nurse Manager?

Nurse Managers plan, monitor and evaluate staff work schedules to ensure optimum customer service while also overseeing the department’s budget.

What makes a good Nurse Manager?

A good Nurse Manager must have excellent critical thinking skills to analyze, evaluate and solve various problems in their nursing department. They also need to have good communication skills since they will work with many Nurses throughout their shift.

Who does a Nurse Manager work with?

A Nurse Manager works with and supervises all Nurses in their department to ensure all employees offer high-quality patient care throughout their shift.


What they do

Nurse managers oversee the nursing care provided in wards or units at public or private hospitals, aged or palliative care homes, or other healthcare facilities. They develop, implement and monitor policies of nursing care. They also supervise nursing staff to ensure nurses provide safe and effective nursing care to patients. They oversee the continuous professional training and development of nurses to meet clinical standards.

Nurse managers are responsible for the smooth running of their ward, ensuring the ward is adequately staffed and well stocked with medical supplies, including medications and personal protective equipment.

Working conditions

Nurse managers usually work regular office hours, but may be required to do shift work including weekends and public holidays, and their working times may be irregular depending on the size of the unit they supervise. They may also need to be able to provide training and organise and attend meetings with staff and upper management.

Tools and technologies

Nurse managers regularly use computers to maintain staff records and coordinate patient care, provide reports to upper management, help to create staff rosters, and allocate resources in the nursing care unit they supervise. They may also use computers and other resources to keep up to date with current advances in nursing, consult government legislation and policies, and access professional development and training for staff.

How do I become one?

Education and training

To become a nurse manager, you must first become a qualified registered nurse. You must also gain sufficient practical experience as a nurse in the area you wish to work. You will usually need to complete postgraduate study in nursing or health management. Most employers will also require those working in management roles to have experience using leadership skills in a related industry or occupation.

To become a registered nurse, you usually need to study a degree in nursing at university. Most universities in Western Australia offer relevant undergraduate and postgraduate courses in nursing or health management. Contact the universities you are interested in for more information.

Required registration and licensing

To work as a nurse manager in Western Australia, you will need to obtain registration from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. You will also need to hold a current Working with Children Check (WWC Check). Visit the Working with Children website for information on how to apply for a WWC Check.

What are 5 major management functions for nurses?

Nursing Management: Organizing, Staffing, Scheduling, Directing & Delegation.

What is the most important characteristic of a nurse manager?

In addition to experience, a few other skills play a key role in nurse manager success. Leadership, communication and collaboration, organization and emotional intelligence rank as the top five qualities of a great nurse manager, says Adam Kless, vice president of clinical operations at Avant Healthcare Professionals.

What is the difference between nurse manager and nurse leader?

Both nurse leaders and managers aim to provide top-quality care in an efficient, meaningful way. But nurse leaders are more hands-on in terms of focusing on patient care, whereas nurse managers work behind the scenes on daily operations.

What are the responsibilities of a nurse manager quizlet?

Nurse managers have the responsibility of day-to-day decisions for their units and interpret established policy, procedures, and mandates. They meet their goals by organizing, staffing, controlling, and solving problems. By contrast, leaders develop a vision and translate that direction into action.