Executive Nurse Leaders: Who Are They and What Do They Do?

As the demand for healthcare workers grows, the fragmentation of roles and titles in the medical world gets even more confusing. There are so many different roles, with some of them having overlapping responsibilities. Today, we will look at one of the most important of these titles, the Executive Nurse Leader.  

Clinical Nurse Leader Vs Executive Nurse Leader

Although both of these titles are held by people who are registered nurses, they are quite different. The similarity in their names can be confusing, but we will see who they are and what they do here:

• A clinical nurse leader starts off as a registered nurse and then attains a Master’s of Science in Nursing or a similar degree. They can also be a Doctor of Nursing Practice. In addition to these educational requirements, they must also have a certification from the relevant educational body that confers them the title. Their educational background lets them practice in almost any specialty and any part of a hospital. They might analyze patient outcomes, coordinate patient care, do risk assessments, and implement best practices.
• An executive nurse leader is a nurse who has undergone an executive nurse leader program and they take on the business side of nursing. They must have at least a graduate nursing degree and more than a few years of experience in an administrative or other higher management role. The qualities of the best executive nurse leaders include:
  • Critical thinking
  • Excellent communication skills and
  • Great organizational skills

An In-depth Look at Executive Nurse Leaders

To become an executive nurse leader, in addition to the Bachelors of Science in Nursing degree, one must also follow these steps:

• Pass a licensing exam administered by the relevant body in their country
• Work as a registered nurse for a number of years. In addition to the experience gained, the nurse will also develop critical thinking, analytical and people skills in this position. 
• Get a Master’s of Science in Nursing, a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, or a Master’s in Business Administration.
• Try to work in a management role such as a supervisor, nurse manager or assistant director
• Apply for certification. Here, the certification is obtained from the relevant education or nursing bodies

For Nurses in the United States

Most executive nurse leaders oversee the entire nursing staff at a health institution. Because of this, they must have advanced certifications to hold those roles. Note that some degree programs prepare their students for these certifications as part of their curriculums. Be sure to attain all accreditations before applying for the certifications as some exceptions might apply. 

In America, the American Nurses Credential Center offers two exams:

• The Nurse Executive exam
• The Nurse Executive-Advanced exam

Further credentials can be obtained from the American Organization of Nurse Executives. Here, nurses can be certified in:

• Executive Nursing Practice
• Nurse Manager and Leader

Remember that the more credentials you have, the better your resume will look. If your aim is to become an executive nurse leader, try to get as many of these credentials as possible.

What Does an Executive Nurse Leader Do?

Executive nurse leaders take more of a background managerial role. They must possess the leadership qualities required to run a whole nursing staff. Executive nurse leaders are also tasked with motivating the nurses working under them, promoting creativity, encouraging them to join nursing organizations, and providing educational courses. They must also demonstrate financial competency and focus on the broader view of healthcare provision in their healthcare system.

In addition to all of the above, an executive nurse leader also has the following roles and responsibilities:

• Taking financial responsibility and accountability
• Supervising the planning and development of procedures and policies of a healthcare facility
• Coming up with nursing and healthcare policies
• Collaborating with healthcare professionals from other disciplines
• Advocating for the welfare of their staff and patients. 
• Implementing patient healthcare policies
• Communicating needs to other hospital departments 
• Creating budgets for the facility they are responsible for

How Do Executive Nurse Leaders Transform Healthcare?

Executive nurse leaders have massive leeway when it comes to transforming healthcare, and you must start by understanding that this position is a managerial or leadership one. It, therefore, follows that executive nurse practitioners have people working under them. Executive nurse leaders transform the healthcare system by allowing those who are below them to succeed and giving them the facilities to do so. Because of this, there are likely to be better medical outcomes whose effects will be felt throughout the medical world. 

Executive nurse leaders are also tasked with advocating for better working conditions for their nurses. This, as with the above point, will lead to better medical outcomes. Executive nurse leaders are expected to bring their competencies and leadership skills forth when dealing with the design and reform of healthcare systems for which they are responsible. They act as full partners to doctors and other healthcare professionals when carrying out this role.

Executive nurse leaders can also lead research efforts into better, evidence-based nursing practices. When the results of such studies are published, they may be implemented throughout the healthcare system. When these changes are adopted, it is nurses who will be responsible for the implementation of these policies.

Will the Role of Executive Nurse Leaders Change in the Future?

Executive nurse leaders’ roles are unlikely to change in the future. The only thing that might happen is the expansion or shrinking of their responsibilities as other roles and positions become available or disappear. The executive nurse leader will always be an important management position in the healthcare system, and its role is unlikely to change as executive nurse leaders form a crucial connection between the nurses and other parts of a hospital’s management.

The position of an Executive Nurse Leader is a very important one in the healthcare system. The position gets confusing because there are other positions with similar names or responsibilities. Hopefully, the article above has helped you better understand the position and you will endeavor to become an executive nurse leader in the future.