Competencies of Nurse Administrators

Long-Term Care
Nursing Leadership and Management

Competencies of Nurse Administrators in Long-term Care Facilities*

Organization Management:

• Serves as a member of the executive staff of the organization and develops effective working relationships with the chief executive officer and the medical director.

• Participates in the development of institutional policies.

• Shares in development of long-range plans for the institution.

• Participates in development and administration of a evaluation plan for the institution based on institutional goals and objectives on nursing standards.

• Works in establishing and facilitating effective employer-employee relations.

• Minimizes legal risks.

• Participates in establishing and maintaining management information systems to facilitate administration of the institution's nursing department.

• Designs and implements organizational structure for the nursing department.

• Formulates and administers policies and procedures for the nursing department.

• Implements federal, state, and local regulations pertaining to nursing service.

• Develops long-range plans for the nursing department.

• Formulates and administers the departmental budget based on nursing department goals and projected revenue.

• Participates in establishing a competitive wage, salary, and benefit plan for nursing services staff.

• Operates the department in a cost-effective manner.

• Designs and implements a quality assurance plan for nursing care.

• Formulates and administers an evaluation plan for nursing services in relation to the department's established goals, objectives, and standards.

• Raises consciousness, educates, and participates in formulating policy relative to bioethical issues.

• Initiates research projects that address problems and issues specific to the nursing department.

Human Resources Management in Nursing:

• Recruits, selects and retains qualified nursing staff.

• Develops and implements a master staffing plan based on client needs and nursing service goals and standards.

• Initiates and approve position descriptions for nursing personnel.

• Promotes a scheduling system that balances employee and client needs.

• Formulates, implements and evaluates a departmental plan for orientation and staff development.

• Assists individual staff members in development of career plans.

• Designs and implements a performance appraisal system for nursing.

• Promotes resolution of conflicts.

• Promotes and implements personnel policies.

• Creates a work climate that promotes a high-quality work life.

Nursing/Health Service Management:

• Develops philosophy, goals, and objectives for the department of nursing.

• Assesses the implementation of effective strategies and methods for delivery of nursing care.

• Implements actions to meet and maintain nursing care standards.

• Cooperates in developing and implementing a process for an interdisciplinary approach to health care services.

• Facilitates creative use of community resources.

• Ensures that client's rights are protected.

• Encourages independence of clients through use of self-care and rehabilitation concepts.

• Initiates formal or informal testing of nursing interventions.

• Evaluates the organization of nursing care.

• Evaluates plans of nursing care.

Professional Nursing and Long-term Care Leadership:

• Plans for future health and nursing care actions based on social, economic, political, and technological changes.

• Promotes changes in community health care systems based on social, economic, political and technological changes.

• Encourages innovative methods for delivery of long-term care.

• Encourages entrepreneurial activities associated with development of nursing models for health care delivery focusing on health promotion, health education, and direct services.

• Establishes linkages with existing community resources.

• Influences public policy affecting long-term care and nursing.

• Establishes relationships with colleges and universities to promote formal educational opportunities for nursing staff, faculty practice, student learning experiences and research.

• Promotes a positive image of long-term care, nursing in long-term care and long-term care institutions.

• Seeks opportunities for personal and professional growth.

*Professional Practice for Nurse Administrators in Long-term Care Facilities (1984 document developed through a project jointly sponsored by the American Nurses Foundation and the Foundation of the American College of Health Care Administrators)