The university of tulsa Online Blog

Nurse managers can make or break a care team. Good teams need strong leaders, and experienced managers improve everyone around them. The responsibilities of nurse management include supporting staff, creating policies, overseeing reports, and working with patients. It’s a complex role that requires considerable skill and dedication.

To learn more, check out the infographic from The University of Tulsa’s Registered Nurse to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (RN to BSN) program.

Nurse Management

Nurse managers are leaders in their workplaces, directing teams and departments.

What Do Nurse Managers Do?

Nurse managers perform a wide variety of duties that keep their teams and departments running smoothly. These duties include recruiting, training, and supporting staff, designating specialty staff personnel, and acting as a liaison between staff and upper management. It also includes helping patients and families in stressful circumstances, organizing paperwork and health records, overseeing day-to-day operations and budgets, and managing and reporting on finances. 

Qualities of Nurse Management

Nurse managers have several qualities that contribute to their success in the field. For example, they have strong communication skills and work well with their team and organizational staff. They are also highly educated, detail-oriented, and committed to providing quality care. 

Nurse managers are skilled in understanding environmental health and work to create and maintain a healthy, balanced work environment for the people they manage. They prioritize standards to ensure their staff behave with integrity and professionalism. They also lead by example, consistently conducting themselves professionally and operating effectively. 

Nurse Management Roles

Nurse management isn’t restricted to one role. A wide range of positions, including those in the executive suite, require strong nurse managers.  

Nurse Manager

Nurse managers oversee nursing staff and operations in a department, which includes hiring nurses, implementing policies, creating reports, and maintaining compliance. Employers usually prefer nurse managers to have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and several years of experience working as a registered nurse (RN). They work in health care facilities of all sizes. Their median annual salary as of April 2025 was about $98,000, according to Payscale. 

Quality Improvement Nurse

Quality improvement nurses perform evaluations of health care centers and suggest policy changes to increase efficiency and effectiveness. They conduct risk assessments, evaluate staff, and develop facility-wide goals. They usually must have a BSN and at least three years’ experience working in a clinical setting. As of March 2025, the median annual salary was about $79,500, according to Payscale. 

Utilization Review Nurse

Utilization review nurses ensure that treatments are effective and necessary. They work to balance patients’ needs and cost-effective health care. They educate staff about best practices and communicate with insurance companies about coverage and policies. The median annual salary in May 2025 was $78,300, according to Payscale. 

Clinical Nurse Supervisor

A clinical nurse supervisor oversees the nurse team of an entire floor or unit. They develop care plans, hire nurses, and communicate with patients to ensure they receive the highest quality care. They liaise with the nursing staff and the administration. The median annual salary as of May 2025 was $86,700, according to Payscale. 

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

CNOs oversee all nurses and nursing practice within an organization. They develop strategies and practices that align with the organization’s mission and values. They handle budgets, scheduling, and communication with other professionals in the health care community. Their median annual salary in March 2025 was about $148,500, according to Payscale. 

How Earning a BSN Can Advance an RN’s Career

Most nurse management positions require a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Besides opening new career paths, earning a BSN offers RNs a range of benefits.

Convenient and Accessible Programs

Online RN to BSN programs allow nurses to continue working while pursuing higher education. Flexible options, including accelerated degrees, enable nurses to proceed at their own pace. Programs often accept previous school credits or work experience, allowing students to graduate faster. Courses may be asynchronous, so students don’t need to attend lectures at specific times.

Builds on Previous Knowledge

RN to BSN programs use working nurses’ experience in the field as a basis for expanded learning. These programs teach RNs new skills, rather than reteaching what they already know.

Prepares Nurses for the Future

Coursework in RN to BSN programs covers current developments and evolving practices to prepare nurses for changes in health care. These programs help nurses network, so they can build a community that provides them with future support and opportunities. Earning a BSN is the first step toward an advanced degree, such as a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctor of Nursing Practice. A BSN can open the door to management and senior-level positions. 

Become a Nurse Manager

Nurse management is a rewarding career that allows nurses to make an impact on both individual patients and their community at large. RNs who pursue a BSN to take on one of these important roles combine their experience and education to lead their team to success. Nurse managers are found in health care facilities of all sizes and in all specialties, but wherever they are, they make a difference.

Sources 

American Nurses Association, How to Become a Travel Nurse

American Nurses Association, Leadership in Nursing: Qualities & Why It Matters

American Nurses Association, What is a Chief Nursing Officer/Chief Nurse Executive?

Health Care Support, Quality Improvement/Management Nurse

Indeed, Nurse Manager: What They Do, Skills and Job Requirements

Indeed, What Is a Nurse Navigator and What Do They Do? (With Skills)

Supplemental Health Care, How to Become a Nurse Supervisor

Payscale, Average Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) Salary

Payscale, Average Nursing Manager Salary

Payscale, Average Quality Improvement Nurse Salary

Payscale, Average Registered Nurse (RN) Supervisor Hourly Pay

Payscale, Average Utilization Review Nurse Salary

Trusted Health, Utilization Review Nurse

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Medical and Health Services Managers