A nurse executive is a position of great responsibility in a health care facility because it involves overseeing the well being of patients and ensuring that staff members are performing their roles properly. To become a nurse executive, an applicant must be a registered nurse with several years of experience and preferably a master’s or doctorate qualification. Nurse executives must be great leaders and organizers with a talent for making quick decisions correctly. The increasing number of elderly patients in need of care coupled with a rise in the amount of retiring nurses means nursing executives are needed urgently.
Nurse executives are in charge of creating health-related policies and managing resources. They focus on improving the care of patients and improving the quality of their staff. Other responsibilities of nurse executives include maintaining positive relationships between staff and patients as well as ensuring proper recordkeeping. They must also create work schedules and delegate responsibilities to a medical facility’s staff.
To become a nurse executive, it is necessary to earn a nursing license and become registered through the required testing procedures. The path toward becoming a registered nurse begins at high school, however, where subjects such as calculus and biology must be studied. A high grade point average is needed to be accepted into a college level education institution. A bachelor of science in nursing will take approximately four years. There will be a final exam that must be passed in order to become a registered nurse.
The bachelor’s degree is the minimum requirement for those seeking to become a nurse executive. This is unlikely to secure the job, however, because the majority of nurse executives tend to be in possession of a master’s or doctorate degree. It is also virtually impossible to become a nurse executive without several years of experience as a registered nurse.
Employers will look for nurse executives who display outstanding communication and leadership qualities. These skills are necessary to make quick observations and decisions. An ability and willingness to assume responsibility and supervise others is of paramount importance. To successfully become a nurse executive, candidates must also prove they are emotionally and mentally stable with unmatched skills in critical thinking.
Throughout the world, registered nurses and nurse executives are generally in high demand. Nurses frequently leave the field because of retirement so a fresh batch of talented and qualified new recruits are often needed. Medical care has shifted focus towards preventative care; with new technology available, hospitals and other facilities will likely be looking for forward-thinking nurses.
