Nursing constitutes the largest segment of the U.S. healthcare workforce, with more than 3.8 million registered nurses across the nation. In fact, RNs outnumber physicians 3 to 1, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).
The healthcare industry is rich with career opportunities for professionals willing and able to support patients. For example, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects healthcare fields to see a 16% job increase between 2020 and 2030.
One exciting career is nursing house supervisor. Professionals in this role oversee nursing staff and perform administrative duties at a healthcare facility. Their main responsibility is to ensure that patients have adequate care by managing nurse schedules and interacting with healthcare professionals, patients, and visitors.
Nurses interested in advancing their careers should explore graduate programs such as a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Only 17.1% of RNs held a master’s degree in 2018, according to the AACN, so MSN graduates will be better prepared and more competitive for a leadership position such as nursing house supervisor.
Role and Responsibilities of a Nursing House Supervisor
Nursing house supervisors often lead a team of nurses and administrative staff to coordinate quality patient care to the standards set by their healthcare organizations. These supervisors typically have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing, an RN license, and several years of professional nursing experience.
Typical Responsibilities
Nursing house supervisors commonly perform the following responsibilities:
- Communicating with patients, nurses, other healthcare professionals, family members, and visitors
- Ensuring quality healthcare for all patients
- Guiding and advising nursing staff with clinical instructions
- Supervising and supporting nursing staff
- Reporting nursing activity to senior management
- Communicating updated information to departments and staff
Communication Duties
First and foremost, nursing house supervisors deal with staffing, scheduling, and administration. In each of these roles, nursing house supervisors must be prepared to communicate in person and in writing with any stakeholders who contact the nursing organization.
For example, to ensure quality care 24/7, nurses who work night shifts need to know how their patients’ needs were met during the day. Nursing house supervisors can facilitate communication between nurses, making sure that clear, organized processes are in place for informing relevant staff members across work shifts.
Scheduling Duties
Scheduling takes up a large part of a nursing house supervisor’s job. They set the schedule for all nurses working on the floor and make sure all gaps in coverage are filled during nights, weekends, and holidays. They also coordinate last-minute staff shortages. For example, when a nurse calls in sick, the nursing house supervisor must find a replacement.
Nursing house supervisors allocate staff within departments, deciding how many nurses should work at a given time to maintain a high standard of care. They closely monitor the ebb and flow of patients throughout an organization, collecting data and making recommendations to healthcare organization leaders about ordering additional resources as needed.
Nursing House Supervisor Skills
Nursing house supervisors need to possess an array of skills. As experienced nurses themselves, they must lead with a deep understanding of what nurses need to succeed and how healthcare organizations operate.
Leadership
Nursing house supervisors possess management and problem-solving skills. They recruit and train new employees, monitor the adequacy of staff, and respond to patient inquiries and concerns.
Communication
Supervisors at organizations with nursing staff enable clear communication. Whether a nurse requests additional supplies or an administrator needs insight for budgeting, a nursing house supervisor facilitates open communication channels for staff to relay information swiftly and easily.
Nursing Expertise
Nurses supervised by other nurses can establish strong bonds. Because nursing house supervisors worked as nurses themselves, they have insight into the management and advisory practices that do and do not work well for nursing environments.
For example, nursing house supervisors may advocate for hiring more nursing staff to keep pace with a growing patient population, preventing nurse burnout before it takes root.
Job Outlook, Salary, and Experience
As the U.S. population continues to age, the need for nursing house supervisors will likely rise.
According to the BLS, in 2020, most medical and health services managers, including nursing house supervisors, worked in:
- Hospitals
- Nursing and residential care facilities
- Outpatient care centers
- Physician offices
- Government institutions
Nursing House Supervisor Salary
Most nursing house managers work full time. According to PayScale, the median annual salary for a nursing supervisor was about $77,000 as of November 2021.
Some nursing house supervisors work night shifts, weekends, and holidays for facilities that operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Recommended Experience and Education
Nursing house supervisors require professional experience as an RN or in another nursing role before they will be considered for a management position.
Common requirements for a nursing house supervisor include:
- Nursing program completion, such as an Associate of Science in Nursing (ASN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree, and current RN licensure
- Work experience as an RN or other state-approved nursing professional
- Interpersonal and technical skills, as well as proficiency in recordkeeping and patient management systems (for example, AdvancedMD and PatientTrak)
While earning a BSN isn’t required to become an RN, employers prefer to hire candidates with a BSN for advanced nursing and leadership roles such as nursing house supervisor. Additionally, nurses interested in becoming a nursing house supervisor may gain an edge on the competition by earning a master’s degree in nursing.
Propel Your Nursing Career with a Master’s Degree
Are you interested in advancing to a leadership role in nursing? Consider taking the next step in your career and explore the Master of Science in Nursing from AdventHealth University Online, designed for working nurses looking to move their careers forward while continuing in their current positions.
Recommended Readings
BSN vs MSN: What’s the right path for you?
The Benefits of an Online Nursing Education
The FNP’s Role in Disaster Nursing and Emergency Preparedness
Sources
American Association of Colleges of Nursing, Nursing Fact Sheet
PayScale, Average Nursing Supervisor Hourly Pay
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Nurse Anesthetists, Nurse Midwives, and Nurse Practitioners
ZipRecruiter, RN House Supervisor Salary
