Nurse Executive

Sample Answer

The nurse executive role is critical for the success of a healthcare organization. Nurse executives primarily help healthcare organizations deliver excellence and ensure services align with their core values. Committed and skilled nursing executives help healthcare facilities to operate smoothly. It is a demanding specialty, and analyzing characteristics, competencies, responsibilities, education, and skills can illustrate what being a nurse executive entails.

Characteristics of a Nurse Executive

Nurse executives are skilled team managers/administrators who direct and guide different interprofessional teams. While playing this role, nurse executives empower teams, review performance, and implement measures for the professional growth of members (Gottlieb et al., 2021). Other valuable characteristics include decision-making, situational awareness, and integrity. Awareness implies a broadened perspective of what organization administration entails and its essential components. Always, nurse executives should be ethical and honest.

Nurse Executive Competencies

The American Organization of Nurse Executives (AONE) classified these competencies into communication and relationship building, knowledge of the healthcare environment, leadership, professionalism, and business skills (González‐García et al., 2021; Nurse Journal Staff, 2023). These competencies enable nurse executives to promote evidence-based practice, manage risks, and engage in change management. They also enable them to advocate for optimal patient care, manage resources, and use technologies to support practice improvement.

Primary Responsibilities

Nurse executives are centrally positioned to help organizations implement their values and missions. They ensure healthcare services are of the highest standards as they shape policies and direct staff on delivering high patient care (González‐García et al., 2021). The routine role of a nurse executive differs with the healthcare facility’s type and size. Despite the inevitable differences, nurse executives are commonly engaged in patient care management, budgeting, and implementing workforce and patient care procedures.

Education and Experience

Nursing executives pass through several educational steps before getting certified. The process starts with obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree. Due to the multidimensional nature of their role and the need for managerial skills, business classes are highly recommended. Next, nurse executives should pass the National Council Licensure Examination before obtaining a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree. Alternatively, nurse executives can obtain a Master’s in Healthcare or Business Administration (RegisteredNursing.org, 2023).

Experience as a registered nurse and in an executive role, such as a nurse manager or director, is essential before certification through the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) by AONE. Nurse Executive Skills Successful nurse executives should be excellent communicators. Other skills include emotional intelligence, flexibility, and the ability to motivate nursing staff. Problem-solving and critical thinking are vital for better clinical judgment (Vana et al., 2021). Among others, these skills enable nurse executives to lead and play the administration role diligently and competently.

Conclusion

Healthcare organizations require committed leaders and managers to help them actualize their visions, missions, and strategic goals. Nurse executives handle this role as the senior-most nurses in the organization. Communication skills and healthcare knowledge are pivotal for nurse executives’ success. Besides, they need advanced education, forward-thinking leadership skills, and business expertise.

References

• González‐García, A., Pinto‐Carral, A., Pérez‐González, S., & Marqués‐Sánchez, P. (2021). Nurse managers’ competencies a scoping review. Journal of nursing management, 29(6), 1410-1419. https //doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13380
• Gottlieb, L. N., Gottlieb, B., & Bitzas, V. (2021). Creating empowering conditions for nurses with workplace autonomy and agency how healthcare leaders could be guided by strengths-based nursing and healthcare leadership (SBNH-L). Journal of Healthcare Leadership, 13, 169–181. https //doi.org/10.2147/JHL.S221141
• NurseJournal Staff. (2023). Nurse executive career overview. Nurse Journal. https //nursejournal.org/executive-nurse/ RegisteredNursing.org. (2023). Nurse executive. https //www.registerednursing.org/specialty/nurse-executive/
• Vana, P. K., & Tazbir, J. (Eds.). (2021). Kelly Vana’s nursing leadership and management. John Wiley & Sons.