Did you think that registered nurses (RNs) were at the top of the nursing career ladder? Think again! Lucrative leadership roles in nursing await you at the end of a Master’s of Science in Nursing degree. Becoming a Nurse Manager or a Nurse Administrator is a fantastic way to grow professionally, within the area of healthcare you know and love. All you need to get there, is a flexible MSN degree.

Many nurses wonder how they can ever achieve a master’s degree, with the round-the-clock schedule that they currently live. Some RNs might even give up, thinking that a master’s in nursing leadership is just too out of reach. They simply can’t quit working. School will never be their only priority. Well, certain colleges understand that, for most people, college simply can’t be your entire life. And, there are flexible MSN programs out there that can lead you into an advanced leadership career – without putting your other obligations on hold. Goodwin College offers a master’s in nursing leadership that can be completed fully online, in as few as 20 months, part-time. You can become a Nurse Leader without ever stepping inside a classroom for your MSN, or leaving your full-time job.

Being a manager or an administrator is synonymous with leadership duties. In nursing leadership roles like these, your advanced knowledge makes you a resource, both from the operational standpoint, and from the content knowledge perspective. To become a leader, experience and education must converge. Experience is something gained over time and often through months and years of learning on the job, at varying healthcare centers, clinics, or rehab facilities. Education is the more quantifiable learned experience. Do the math by reviewing the core components of a college’s MSN curriculum. If advanced pathophysiology, pharmacology, and physical assessment, research, communications, population health theory, and policy, politics, and organization of healthcare, are all included, you can feel assured that you’re obtaining a well-rounded knowledge base. Courses at Goodwin College will lend you the necessary hard and soft leadership skills that will help you become the face of a valuable opinion in your healthcare center.

Nurse Managers and Nurse Administrators truly build and run their departments, making them vital for every healthcare facility. They possess the following job responsibilities:

• Oversee nurses and assistant managers
• Hire, train, and evaluate staff
• Schedule team-wide work shifts
• Ensure the quality of patient care
• Engage in ongoing education regarding technological advancements
• Maintain compliance with state and Nation-wide laws and regulations
• Implement efficiency improvements
• Communicate interdepartmentally

Nurse Managers and Nurse Administrators not only apply clinical know-how to their jobs, but largely, their roles are about people and team management. They balance budgets and advise on strategy, as much as they maintain team morale. The following personal and professional traits are hugely important for success in any nursing leadership role:

• Collaborative
• Detail-oriented
• Mentor capabilities
• Motivated
• Listener
• Practical
• Problem-solver

Value as a leader usually comes at a pretty price point, and the Nurse Manager and Nurse Administrator roles are no exception. According to Glassdoor, these roles make, on average, $85k. In comparison to the RN job, which makes on average $69k, becoming a leader through one of these positions more than just personally fulfilling. You can learn more about the MSN salary potential here.

Activating your career with a Master’s in Nursing is a great way to be competitive in a quickly growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare administration job prospects are expected to grow 17% through 2024. The only way to truly stand out is with an advanced degree.

What are you waiting for? Contact Goodwin College to learn more about our flexible MSN program, and get started on sharpening your leadership potential. Call 800-889-3282 or request more information online.