According to research by Montana University, one million registered nurses are projected to retire in the United States by 2030. That means this career choice will have a major shift in the future. Nurses usually choose management or leadership roles over clinical nursing because there is a higher demand for managers and supervisors in hospitals due to an aging workforce.
Nurse leaders and managers both have the same goal and that is to provide high quality and patient-focused care to the patients. They both work together as a team but there are differences based on their job duties and how they work along with other employees. Let’s discuss the responsibilities, qualities, and characteristics of both positions to determine how they are different. But first, let’s see what exactly are these professions.
Difference Between Leadership and Management in Nursing
- Difference Between Leadership and Management in Nursing
- What is a Nurse Manager?
- What is a Nurse Leader?
- What is the difference between a Nurse Manager and a Nurse Leader?
- Nurse Management vs Nurse Leadership: What’s the Difference?
- More Resources for Difference Between Leadership and Management in Nursing:
What is a Nurse Manager?
A nurse manager is a registered nurse who works in a leadership or management role within a healthcare facility. You can sometimes hear them called charge nurses, head nurses, unit managers, and supervisors which all have the same meaning. A nurse manager ensures that nursing care is provided to patients according to established standards of care, state/federal laws and regulations, organizational policies, and procedures. They evaluate performance through observations and direct feedback from staff nurses.
A Nurse Manager Job Duties:
- Educate staff on patient’s rights and responsibilities when providing information related to the delivery of nursing services
- Interventions with regard to nursing services
- Utilize therapeutic communication techniques in order to assess patient needs for specific interventions
- Establish realistic patient care goals that support the mission, vision, and values of their organization
- Act as a patient advocate and facilitate the resolution of patient/family concerns
- Ensure safety standards are met by adhering to organizational policies, procedures, standards, and legal regulations
- Supervise staff performing tasks consistent with established departmental policy
Nurse Manager Requirements
- Associate’s degree in nursing Bachelor’s degree in nursing
- Current state license as registered nurse
- Current BLS certification
- CPR certification
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to take initiative
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Effective written communication abilities
- Demonstrated ability to carry out supervisory responsibilities
- Excellent oral communication abilities
- Good problem-solving skills
- Knowledgeable about the healthcare industry
What is a Nurse Leader?
A nurse leader is someone who provides expertise and leadership within an organization or healthcare system. They can be licensed practical nurses or registered nurses who work in leadership positions. The nurse leader’s main responsibility is to provide guidance, motivation, and support for their team members by creating a work environment that encourages everyone to achieve success through collaboration and teamwork. Nurse Leaders promote quality care by encouraging relationships among patients, families, customers, or other stakeholders while demonstrating accountability and responsiveness.
A Nurse Leader Job Duties:
- Assist nursing staff with meeting productivity goals as well as cost containment strategies
- Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams
- Maintain open communication between the nurse leader and those who report to them
- Participates in meeting staffing plans for patient care units
- Ensure that customer service standards are met within work unit
- Manage performance issues of employees under direct supervision
- Develop job descriptions and provide ongoing coaching and discipline
- Train new nurses on proper procedures and policies
- Demonstrate financial management skills
Nurse Leader Requirements
- 2-year degree in nursing Bachelor’s degree in nursing
- Current state license as registered nurse
- Current CPR certification
- Basic computer skills
- Ability to take initiative
- Ability to work well under pressure
- Excellent written communication abilities
- Good problem-solving skills
- Knowledgeable about the healthcare industry
What is the difference between a Nurse Manager and a Nurse Leader?
The differences are clear. A nurse manager ensures that nursing care is provided according to established standards of care, laws, and regulations. They also evaluate performance through observations or direct feedback from staff nurses.
On the other hand, nurse leaders provide expertise and effective leadership within an organization or healthcare system. Their main responsibility is providing guidance, motivation, and support for their team members who can be both licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. Nurse leaders are responsible for helping their teams meet productivity goals as well as cost containment strategies with collaboration from interdisciplinary teams. They also help create a work environment that encourages everyone to achieve success through collaboration and teamwork. It is clear who does what in this position, making the nurse leader more of a hands-on management role rather than an administrative one.
Nurse Management vs Nurse Leadership: What’s the Difference?
The most important distinction to note with these two functions within nursing is that they are different. Although both positions require one to be skilled in leadership, it doesn’t mean that they are interchangeable or completely synonymous.
A nurse leader provides expertise and leadership within an organization or healthcare system while also maintaining accountability for providing guidance, motivation, and support for their team members; they must create a work environment that encourages everyone to achieve success through collaboration and teamwork while demonstrating accountability and responsiveness.
While nurse manager ensures that nursing care is provided according to established standards of care, laws, and regulations as well as evaluating performance through observations or direct feedback from staff nurses.
In terms of tasks, a nurse leader is responsible for providing guidance, motivation, and support for their team members who can be both licensed practical nurses or registered nurses. They must create a work environment that encourages everyone to achieve success through collaboration and teamwork while demonstrating accountability and responsiveness.
Conclusion
Both of these careers have the potential to advance, but for some nurses the difference between nurse leadership and nursing management is unintelligible. The significant difference is that one strives to lead through expert-based knowledge while the other manages operations through administrative tasks. Some nurses may work their way up to an executive position within a health care system whereas others will stay working on the front lines of patient care.
Regardless of where they work or what their role entails, nurses need to know that there are many opportunities available in nursing depending upon which career path they wish to take. The most important thing for any nurse entering this field is being able to provide exceptional patient care in order to advance in their career and receive greater rewards along with more responsibilities.
In short, whether you choose nursing management or nurse leadership you will be able to make a difference in today’s ever-changing healthcare system.
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