From Bedside to Boardroom: 8 Nurse Leadership Opportunities

Nurses are stepping beyond the bedside in today’s healthcare landscape by becoming leaders who impact healthcare systems and patient care. By elevating the standard of care, driving innovation and being healthcare change agents, nurses can make a tremendous difference in the lives of their patients. 

Here, you’ll discover the many pathways nurses can undertake to become leaders and how best to go about that intention. If you are a nurse who wants to make a positive difference in your career, then consider a leadership role in your healthcare community.

The Influence of Nurse Leaders

Nurses can affect strategic change in the communities they serve and in the healthcare systems in which they work by leading with empathy and expertise. Driving change as a nurse begins with a listening heart and a sensible intuition as your guide. By practicing strategic decision-making, proactive mentorship and patient advocacy, nurses can improve the healthcare landscape.  

Improving Patient Outcomes through Leadership

Quality, complete nursing care directly impacts patient outcomes. By defining outset expectations, applying evidence-based methods, and practicing accountability, nurse leaders can encourage best practices for patient care. In this way, nurses can ensure safer staffing ratios and better critical patient concerns, including safety and infection control.      

The Power of Communication and Teamwork in Leadership

Strong communication and teamwork are the bedrock of effective nurse leadership. Nurses who model open communication and promote cohesive collaboration go a long way in ensuring their leadership is effective and accessible. Their teams are empowered to believe in the leadership vision, embrace change and action it. By forging trust and transparency, nurse leaders can better patient care and improve service delivery.   

Cultivating Leadership Skills

Nurse leaders possess not only clinical training acumen, but also nursing skills to elevate teams, inspire growth and promote change.  Becoming the nurse leader who can transform healthcare systems and patient lives requires critical thinking, problem-solving skills and a refined sense of emotional intelligence and empathy.     

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Nurse leaders employ critical thinking and problem-solving skills to resolve emergent patient care situations. They must assess complex patient issues, propose strategic solutions and offset any potential problems that may arise. In this way, they can direct positive outcomes for patients and their care teams. 

Emotional Intelligence and Empathy in Leadership

By applying emotional intelligence and empathy to patient and team concerns, nurse leaders can advance favorable solutions for better patient health and safety. These skills empower nurse leaders to see the patient as a whole person and view their team with compassion. 

Pathways to Leadership Success

Whether you are a newcomer to nursing or you want to advance your career, there are many opportunities to pursue nursing leadership. The best pathway to earn a leadership opportunity is through gaining more education and certifications. From clinical, administrative to entrepreneurial positions, here are some of the many key leadership healthcare roles you can pursue: 

Education and Certification for Nurse Leaders

Degrees like a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) and a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) are helpful if you want to learn leadership skills. These include team management, healthcare strategy, and clinical leadership. Certifications like Nurse Executive (NE-BC) or Certified Nurse Manager Leader (CNML) would affirm your nursing expertise and ensure you are primed for leadership.   

8 Key Healthcare Leadership Roles

Chief Nursing Officer (CNO)

The Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) ranks as the highest nurse in any healthcare organization. CNOs are responsible for strategic planning, directing nursing departments, driving regulatory compliance and improving patient outcomes through healthcare initiatives. These nurse leaders also have a stake in financial nursing policy and organizational leadership direction.

Director of Nursing

A Director of Nursing manages nursing staff and ensures satisfactory patient outcomes. They manage nurse development, implement healthcare policies and oversee staffing. Such directors collaborate with other healthcare leaders to establish and ensure compliance protocols as well as secure better patient care. 

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Nurse Practitioners (NP) provide direct patient care while also contributing to the leadership of their healthcare community. They diagnose, manage and treat acute and chronic patient conditions in their clinical practice. In their leadership role, NPs manage and mentor their staff and lead interdisciplinary teams to more positive patient outcomes. If you’re interested in becoming a nurse practitioner, Achieve Test Prep can help you succeed in your NP education.

Clinical Nurse Manager

Clinical Nurse Managers work hands-on with nursing units to advance smoother operations within their departments. They are responsible for staff scheduling, finding solutions to emergent patient care issues and ensuring that patients receive optimal care.

Healthcare Administrator

Healthcare Administrators are responsible for the business dimension of providing quality healthcare, including budgeting, human resources and policy adherence. Their direction enhances the overall environment in which doctors and nurses work. 

Nurse Educator

Nurse Educators are essential to shaping the incoming generation of nursing professionals. They are responsible for mentoring, teaching and guiding students in both academic and clinical fields to inspire quality nursing care. They work every day to ensure that new nurses can meet the challenges that today’s healthcare field presents. 

Nurse Entrepreneur

Nurse Entrepreneurs are responsible for creating healthcare solutions that drive innovation. Their clinical skill and business savvy are needed to solve emergent problems that healthcare professionals face. They advance patient care and close any gaps in its delivery. Healthcare leaders turn to nurse entrepreneurs to drive change and evolution in their industry. 

Advancing Your Leadership Career

Gaining further education, expanding your network and mentorship opportunities as well as building your personal brand are all valuable ways to continue to grow in your nursing career. Here is a breakdown of the some best practices to become a nurse leader:

Continuing Education and Certifications

Programs including a Post-Master’s Certificate in Leadership show vital interest and investment in nursing leadership. As mentioned, degrees like an MSN or DNP as well as certificates like a NE-BC, CNML or the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) go a long way in ensuring you are a skilled expert. These recognitions give you industry credibility as a standard for quality patient care and beyond. 

Networking and Mentorship for Growth

Building a solid network of mentors, colleagues and leaders can propel your career into leadership heights. In this way, you are more likely to be introduced to other leaders in your nursing field. You also can showcase your talents and skill as a thought leader in your area of expertise. 

Building a Personal Brand as a Nurse Leader

With your expertise and educational foundation, you can build a personal brand that highlights your professional expertise, individual strengths and leadership style. Promote your skills in social media so that you can gain traction in your healthcare community and professionally. By illustrating your nursing leadership insights, you can boost your career in ways that expand your valuable nursing skill. 

Ready to Advance Your Nursing Education?

If you feel you want to go from bedside to boardroom in your career, Achieve Test Prep is ready to help you succeed. Whether you want to complete an LPN to RN bridge program, LPN to BSN bridge program, LPN to Nurse Practitioner, RN to BSN bridge program, or CNA to RN bridge programAchieve can help you get started on this path. If you seek to complete CLEP, TEAS or NCLEX exam prep, we’ve also got you covered. Take the lead in your career to create the best opportunities for you with Achieve.