Nurse Leader Career
What Do You Do In This Career?
A nurse leader is a nurse practitioner with a designated position of authority. Nurse leaders provide a supportive and stimulating environment for staff as well as patients. For registered nurses interested in an administrative, managerial, or executive role, nurse leadership is a program specifically designed to develop the knowledge and critical thinking skills required to assume management responsibilities. Nurse leaders are often responsible for overall management of his/her nursing unit.
Salary and Career Information
- Salary: Nurse leaders can earn an annual salary of $89,242, depending on type of practice, education level, and years of experience.
- Nurse Leader Requirements: To practice as a nurse leader you must first earn a Bachelor of Science in nursing, and be able to practice as a registered nurse. Then you can complete a Master of Science in nursing with a specialty in nurse leadership.
- Work Environment: Nurse leaders work as consultants, or in a hospital or other large medical facility. Nurse leaders can also work for the government or non-profit agencies.
What Kind of Coursework Can You Expect in This Program?
Nurse leadership programs cover a wide range of objectives including how to motivate, inspire, and empower students to successfully lead a team of health care professionals. Courses cover such topics as effective leadership skills, how to implement valuable recruitment and retention processes, and methods for addressing barriers among staff.
Earn an Online Nurse Practitioner Degree
Online nurse practitioner programs have grown in popularity in recent years as more accredited schools have begun offering online alternatives to these degrees. Combining flexibility with the lack of campus visitation required these programs are ideal for working professionals. By clicking on links below, you can request information from each school about its tuition, classes, and programs.
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Georgetown University — Stationed out of Washington DC, Georgetown University is a cultural and social hub and is one of the oldest schools in the nation. The school has two online nursing programs available, an MSN in Family Nursing and an MSN in Midwifery and Women's Health. Georgetown is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. |
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Kaplan University — Kaplan University's online presence is almost unmatched, offering over 170 online degrees and programs, including MSN in Nurse Administration, MSN in Nurse Education, and MSN in Nurse Informatics. However, there are also 70 campuses across the country for those interested in a more traditional education. Kaplan is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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University of Phoenix — While it may not be surprising that the University of Phoenix is based in Phoenix, AZ, the school does have over 200 additional locations around the country. Phoenix has more than 200 online programs available, with nursing degrees in Health Education, Health Informatics, and a general track. Phoenix is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission. |
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American Sentinel University — American Sentinel University is an online college focused on technology, business, and healthcare. The school offers several nursing programs like the RN to MSN bridge programs or the MSN in Nursing Informatics. All of these programs require no campus visitation and can be completed online entirely. ASU has an accreditation by the Distance Education and Training Council. |
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Capella University — Based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Capella University is an online school with over 37000 current students across the nation. Its online programs like MSN in Nurse Educator (Bridge option also available) have one-to-one tutoring, accelerated study, and low student to teacher ratios. Capella holds several accreditations, including The Higher Learning Commission and Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education. |
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