An Interview With a Nurse Manager and a Director of Nursing

Introduction

I interviewed a nurse manager and director of nursing. The nurse manager has been in that position for one and a half years, while the nursing director has served in that position for four years. Each individual expounded on the qualifications needed for their positions, challenges they face and how they overcome them, successes and how they achieved them, and skills needed for each role. The following are the comparisons and contrasts of the findings of the two interviews with the best practices identified in the literature and my reflection on perceptions of each role.

Comparisons and Contrasts

First, the nurse manager and director of nursing highlighted the significance of formal education, leadership skills, and hands-on experience for their roles. The nurse manager has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree and has pursued leadership courses and certifications in healthcare management, besides having several years of clinical experience. The nursing director holds a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), majoring in nursing administration, has pursued certifications in nursing administration and management, worked in many clinical settings, and occupied several leadership positions. The American Nurses Association (2023b) states that a nurse manager must be a registered nurse and have a BSN from an accredited university or college. The nurse must work in a clinical setting for over two years to acquire the needed experience. Some health organizations require nurse managers to have a Master’s in Healthcare or Business Administration or an MSN. For the director of nursing, nurses are required to have an advanced degree like MSN or Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) (American Nurses Association, 2023a). The nurses should also have worked in the health sector for many years to improve and acquire leadership and administrative skills.

On the challenges, the nurse manager argued that he struggles to balance patient care with administrative duties. However, he ensures that all tasks are delegated properly and that communication in the department is done on time. This enables him to create a positive work environment, collaborate with colleagues, and solve work problems effectively. According to the director of nursing, her role is challenging due to the shortage of staff, limited budget, and pressure to comply with the regulations. The challenges are solved through regular training of nurses, collaborating with department heads, and developing measures to ensure efficient staffing. Heinen et al. (2019) state that many challenges affect nurse leaders when discharging their duties, including privacy concerns, staff shortages, and tight budgets. The leaders must work within the nursing ethics and ensure patient records are handled and stored properly. They must also educate nurses on different nursing principles to ensure they comply with all regulations.

On the successes, the nurse manager was proud of his new patient care protocol that has enhanced quality care delivery and, thus, patient satisfaction. He developed the protocol with the help of other stakeholders, careful planning, and making decisions based on staff and patient feedback. The director of nursing also highlighted her quality improvement initiative, which has helped reduce hospital-acquired infections. According to her, the initiative has been successful due to the combined effort of all departments, data-driven decisions, and a culture of continuous improvement. In nursing leadership, effective communication, continued improvements, data-driven decision-making, and interdepartmental collaboration help to achieve the required results (Heinen et al., 2019). The nurse manager and the director of nursing identified these factors and attributed them to their success.

Regarding the essential skills for each role, the nurse manager stated that his role needed a person to have different skills, including strong decision-making, effective communication, and conflict resolution. He also highlighted that as a nurse manager, you need to create a positive work culture and know the various regulations and policies in the healthcare sector. The director of nursing stated skills like effective leadership, financial management, strategic planning, and policy development as the most important in her role. As a director of nursing, you also have to create a work environment that encourages innovation, understands industry trends, and promotes patient-centered care. In nurse leadership, skills such as strategic planning, efficient communication skills, and financial management play a key role in delivering quality health care (Heinen et al., 2019). Both leaders in the interviews acknowledge that strong leadership skills and effective communication help to create a positive work environment that enhances their success.

Reflection

Nurses can grow and advance their careers within the nursing field through different roles, like being directors of nursing and nurse managers. The nurse manager role focuses on operational management and frontline leadership, while the director of nursing role focuses on broader organizational planning and leadership. I have an undeniable passion and admiration for nurse leaders who work to transform the health sector by improving the welfare of patients and healthcare professionals. For this reason, I want to advance my education and gain experience in various leadership positions within the nursing field to become a director of nursing. I aspire to influence health policy and strategy to advance nursing practice and improve the quality of patient care provided. By becoming a director of nursing, I will be able to hire qualified staff, develop effective plans and budgets, and implement policies and procedures that will improve the welfare of all stakeholders. My career goals, leadership skills, interests, and professional development objectives align with the roles of a director of nursing.

In conclusion, the interviews with both nurse leaders were consistent with the best practices identified in the literature on nursing leadership and management. The nurse manager and director of nursing highlighted the importance of education, skills development, and approaches that enable them to overcome challenges and succeed in successful roles. The interviews inspired me and gave me a reason to work hard and advance my education to reach the top levels in the nursing field.

References

American Nurses Association. (2023a, April 14). How to Become a Director of Nursing. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/resources/individual/how-to-become-a-director-of-nursing/#:~:text=You

American Nurses Association. (2023b, May 19). Charge nurse vs. nurse manager: What’s the difference? ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/resources/individual/charge-nurse-vs-nurse-manager/

Heinen, M., Oostveen, C., Peters, J., Vermeulen, H., & Huis, A. (2019). An Integrative Review of Leadership Competencies and Attributes in Advanced Nursing Practice. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 75(11), 2378–2392. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14092