Nursing Leadership: What It Is and Why It’s Important

Healthcare is constantly evolving, whether it’s new treatments, legal guidelines or technology. Nurses are on the front lines of this change, and nursing leadership is critical to guiding colleagues and healthcare organizations through the transformation. With an average of 194,500 annual openings projected for nurses each year through 2033, experienced nurses must step up as leaders to maintain high-quality standards of care.¹

Learn more about leadership in nursing and how it can take your nursing career to the next level.

Table of Contents:

• What Is Nurse Leadership?
• Nurse Leadership Roles
• How Can You Show Leadership in Nursing?
• How to Become a Part of Nurse Leadership
• Become a Nurse Leader with USAHS

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What Is Nurse Leadership?

Let’s begin with a nursing leadership definition. A nurse leader is a nurse with a clear understanding of nursing, business and leadership that allows them to:² 

• Deliver high levels of patient care
• Inspire their colleagues
• Manage a team of nurses
• Communicate goals to their team
• Motivate their team to accomplish their goals
• Take a broad view of daily task

Nurse leaders may have a specific leadership role, but some may prefer to act as leaders while still working as a registered nurse.² These nurses may:

• Mentor a new nurse
• Volunteer for committee roles
• Get involved in the community, such as at a vaccination drive
• Take continuing education courses to further their knowledge
• Stay up-to-date on healthcare trends
• Engage with public policy at the local, state or national level

Nurse leaders are essential to healthcare organizations for various reasons, including:²

• Shaping workplace culture, including job satisfaction and retention rates
• Influencing healthcare legislation in their community
• Impacting the development and training of future nurses

Nurse Leadership Roles

Job titles and responsibilities may vary based on the size and structure of the healthcare organization. We’ll cover a few of the most common leadership in nursing definitions and roles below.

“Navigating the intricate landscape of healthcare demands visionary leaders who bring innovation and dynamism to the forefront. Effective nursing leaders inspire a collective vision, foster collaboration, and ensure the highest quality patient care. These leaders are the bedrock of healthcare organizations and represent the voice of the patients, families, and nurses. Through their advocacy, they instigate positive transformations paving the way for excellence in healthcare.”

Ashlee Loewen, DNP, APRN, FNP-C: Assistant Program Director, Nursing at USAHS

Charge Nurse

A charge nurse is a registered nurse leader who manages a shift of nurses while providing clinical care alongside the rest of the team.^3,4 This is often a registered nurse’s first formal experience as a nurse leader.⁵ They report to a nurse manager or supervisor.³

Nurse Manager

A nurse manager has a clinical and executive role within the healthcare organization.⁶ In this nurse leader role, they oversee patient care and daily operations in their units, like a charge nurse, but also often have managerial duties such as setting staff schedules and monitoring their team’s performance and growth.^6,7

They are involved in some patient care but may also handle disputes between patients and nursing staff.^6,8 In some healthcare organizations, nurse managers may collaborate on policy development, setting budgets and creating unit policies.^6,5

Nurse Administrator

Often called the Director of Nursing (DON), a nurse administrator is a nursing leadership position that oversees a department.⁶ These nurses focus on the business aspect of nursing: creating budgets and handling human resources (HR) matters such as hiring and training staff.

Those in nurse leadership roles like this one often monitor nursing staff to ensure they comply with laws and regulations and develop policies and procedures.⁹

Nurse Executive

These are the most senior nurses who work at a corporate level.⁶ They oversee the operations of a nursing staff, create and manage budgets and develop organizational policies. They work primarily with other executives in a healthcare organization.⁵ Titles at this level of leadership in nursing include Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) and Chief Nurse Executive (CNE).³

Nurse Educator

A nurse educator primarily teaches nursing students, whether it’s in a formal classroom or a clinical setting.¹⁰ Some nurse educators may also conduct research.

How Can You Show Leadership in Nursing?

Regardless of their role, nurse leaders must have all the qualities and skills of a good nurse, including empathy, communication and time management. In addition, they also need the following attributes:

“To be a great nurse leader you need the following traits: a willingness to listen, a willingness to grow beyond your comfort zone, and, most importantly, a willingness to try. Great nursing leaders keep the people who they lead at the forefront, are willing to be agile in the face of change and elevate the profession no matter their practice specialty. All nurses are leaders.”

Sarah Cartwright, DNP, RN, NI-BC, CAPA, FASPAN, Executive Director, Associate Professor, School of Nursing at USAHS

• Experience: To meet the educational requirements and credentialing prerequisites for most leadership nursing positions, you will need some nursing experience.⁶ See educational requirements below.
• Advanced Education: Most nursing leadership roles require advanced nursing knowledge, business and leadership skills. Enrolling in continued professional development courses and advanced degree paths, such as the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USAHS) Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program, will help you attain the required level of education.² See educational requirements below for more information.
• Critical Thinking Skills: In a nurse leader role, at any level, you’ll need to troubleshoot problems, develop policies and analyze decisions that impact your team and the healthcare organization.²
• Business and Operational Skills: Many leadership roles in nursing, especially those at the nurse administrator and executive levels, require business and operations skills such as budgeting and human resources.⁶
• Passion for Nursing:¹¹ As part of nurse leadership, among your job responsibilities, is encouraging and inspiring your team.² You’ll also engage in activities that shape the future of nursing, whether it’s creating policy or mentoring a new nurse. A passion for the profession will inspire those around you.
• Ability to Inspire and Motivate:¹² Nursing can be stressful, and good nurse leaders know how to inspire their teams to overcome difficult situations and continue providing high-quality care.
• Conflict Resolution:¹² Depending on your role, you may need to step in to resolve conflicts, whether they are between nurses on your staff or a patient and a nurse. Strong conflict resolution skills establish a healthy work environment, promoting increased job satisfaction and nurse retention rates.
• Technology Proficiency:¹² Medical care incorporates a great deal of technology. In nursing leadership, you’ll have to understand the technology to train others to use it safely and effectively.

How to Become a Part of Nurse Leadership

Educational requirements for nursing leadership positions vary by role, but you can generally expect your employer to require a blend of real-world experience and a formal education.⁵ Many nurse leaders start as a charge nurse and then pursue a master’s degree in nursing or business, but more advanced roles may require you to earn a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP).⁵

Nurses typically follow the steps below to become a nurse leader.

Step One: Become a Registered Nurse (RN)

Becoming an RN may involve completing an accredited registered nursing program or earning either an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).¹³ You’ll then need to pass the NCLEX®-RN exam and obtain the registered nurse license in your state (requirements vary by state).¹⁴

Step Two: Gain Nursing Experience

The amount of necessary nursing experience varies depending on the nurse leadership role. For example, nurse executives need an average of five years of progressive leadership experience.⁶ To determine how much nursing leadership experience you need for a specific role, ask human resources at your organization.

Step Three: Earn an Advanced Degree

While nurse managers need at least a BSN, most other nurse leadership positions require a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.⁶ Some positions may also accept a degree in healthcare administration instead of an MSN.⁶

At USAHS, you can enter the MSN program as an RN or with a BSN, allowing you a flexible entry pathway. If you enroll in the BSN to MSN program, you can also focus your studies on role specialties to prepare for specific nurse leadership roles:

• Nurse Executive: For nurses looking to pursue an organizational leadership role
• Nurse Educator:* For nurses looking to pursue teaching—note that this program is not currently accepting students

Depending on your healthcare organization’s requirements, you may want to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). While you can become a nurse executive in most healthcare organizations with an MSN, earning a DNP may help increase your salary as it is a terminal degree. Like the MSN, you can also focus your DNP on one of several role specialties, including the Nurse Executive role specialty.

If you wish to pursue the nurse educator role and want to teach at the college level, consider earning a PhD in nursing—a terminal nursing degree that prepares you for a career in nursing education.

Step Four: Get Certified in Nursing Leadership

Many employers do not require certification, but becoming certified shows that you have the expertise to handle the nurse leader role.⁶

There are several nursing leadership certifications you can pursue:

Become a Nurse Leader with USAHS

Take the next step toward leadership in nursing with USAHS.

“Getting my DNP has been one of my far-off goals. It’s been challenging—but the skills I learned during this program will look good on my resume and prepare me for the future. During my practicum, I’ve been able to sit in on division-wide leadership meetings and see the inner workings at that level. It’s eye-opening.” 

Brian L., USAHS DNP

As a leader in health sciences education, USAHS connects you with faculty and nursing students focused on excellent patient care and the pursuit of nurse leadership opportunities. Our programs emphasize interprofessional education and prepare you for the collaborative nature of modern nursing roles. Our innovative learning model incorporates online courses and on-campus intensives for some role specialties.

If you’re still exploring your options for nurse leadership, request more information about which USAHS nursing program might be right for you. Then, apply to our MSN or DNP programs to secure your future as a nurse leader.

*Call for availability.

Sources

1. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Registered Nurses,” Occupational Outlook Handbook,” BLS, April 17, 2024, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/registered-nurses.htm#tab-6.
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3. AllHeart, “Types of Nurses: All Nursing Titles and Rankings You Need to Know,” AllHeart, n.d., https://www.allheart.com/blog/types-of-nurses.html.
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8. Indeed Editorial Team, “Nurse Leader vs. Nurse Manager (With Roles and Differences),” Indeed, July 10, 2024, https://sg.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/nurse-leader-vs-nurse-manager.
9. Maura Deering, “Nurse Administrator Career Overview,” Nurse Journal, June 10, 2024, https://nursejournal.org/careers/nurse-administrator/.
10. Genevieve Carlton, “Nursing Leadership: 8 Jobs to Consider,” Best Colleges, March 10, 2023, https://www.bestcolleges.com/nursing/nursing-leadership-jobs/.
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13. Nursing License Map, “How to Become a Registered Nurse (RN),” Nursing License Map, November 2022, https://nursinglicensemap.com/nursing-specialties/registered-nurse/.
14. Nursing License Map, “Nursing Licensure by State,” Nursing License Map, October 30, 2019, https://nursinglicensemap.com/states/.
15. American Organization for Nursing Leadership, “CENP Frequently Asked Questions,” AONL, 2024, https://www.aonl.org/initiatives/cenp-faq.
16. American Nurses Credentialing Center, “Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC®),” ANCC, n.d., https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/nurse-executive/.
17. American Nurses Credentialing Center, “Nurse Executive Advanced Certification (NEA-BC®),”, ANCC, n.d., https://www.nursingworld.org/our-certifications/nurse-executive-advanced/.
18. American Organization for Nursing Leadership, “CNML Frequently Asked Questions,” AONL, 2024, , https://www.aonl.org/initiatives/cnml-faq
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