While the work might be challenging and the hours long, the rewards that come from a Chief Nursing Officer or CNO career are worth it. This specific type of medical career comes with a lot of responsibility as one of the highest of all management positions within the nursing sector. The individual who holds this position plays a key role in the operation of the medical facility in which he or she works.
Chief Nursing Officer Career, Role of a Chief Nursing Officer
As Chief Nursing Officer, this person would have the responsibility of coordinating and managing the facility’s nursing department. Since this person would be the voice of the nurses and works to keep nursing staff on target for the philosophy, mission, and value of the facility, outstanding communication and organizational skills are required. Other functions performed by the Chief Nursing Officer include keeping upper management abreast of patient care and best practices, working alongside various healthcare leaders in helping establish both benefit and compensatory programs specific to nurses on staff, and assisting with nursing staff recruitment, as well as training.
Often, it is the Chief Nursing Officer who creates the patient care program for the medical facility, manages budgets pertaining to nurses, develops the nursing policies and procedures, determines the new patient services that would be offered, and takes part in any cross-department decision making strategies. Depending on the medical facility, the Chief Nursing Officer may or may not manage more than one department but in all cases, this individual would report direct to the organization’s Chief Executive Officer.
Chief Nursing Officer Educational Requirements
For a person to be considered for a high level medical position such as Chief Nursing Officer, extensive experience would be needed in clinical nursing, as well as management. This person must have strong leadership skills and the ability to keep nursing staff motivated. In addition, the person who would hold this position would need to be a strong problem solver, have excellent analytical skills, possess strong oral and written communication skills, and have the willingness and ability to adapt to change. Along with all this, the Chief Nursing Officer must have an outstanding knowledge of medical advancements and improvements.
In most cases, the Chief Nursing Officer would begin a career as a Registered Nurse within a large hospital environment but over time, promote into various leadership roles. Regarding current education, this person must have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) at the very minimal although most hospitals and clinics strongly prefer the Chief Nursing Officer hold a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree.
Chief Nursing Officer Salaries
Salary potential as a Chief Nursing Officer is quite good, with the starting salary ranging anywhere from $90,000 to 135,000 although making $145,000 a year is very feasible. Of course, as with any officer of a company, it is common for the person being hired on as the Chief Nursing Officer to be offered not only a nice sign-on bonus but ongoing incentives when set milestones are met.
Chief Nursing Officer Opportunities
According to official labor statistics, the healthcare sector will see the most aggressive growth rate over the next 10 years, specifically in the areas of nursing and administration. Although it takes time to develop the experience and qualification to become a Chief Nursing Officer, knowing that job opportunities will be wide open it is certainly a nice goal to strive for and eventually attain. With so many people going into nursing, those just getting started as a Registered Nurse can set their sights on the big prize of one day becoming a Chief Nursing Officer.
