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Education, training, and experience are necessary for nurses in any role they perform. Consider those vital factors on your checklist for hiring a nurse manager. But is that enough? Do you need more? What are the essential qualities required for a nurse manager to be successful?
Clinical Expertise
Staff members look to their nurse manager for clinical expertise and advice. Their leader should be actively involved in advancing their education, be engaged in hands-on patient care, and make trustworthy recommendations for handling uncommon situations.
Strategic Thinking
Successful nursing leaders establish goals for themselves and their teams. Goals can be related to the following:
Work environment
Education and training
Mentoring and coaching
Strategies for turning mistakes into learning opportunities
Value Work Relationships
Nurse managers who nurture a healthy work environment enjoy an engaged staff and better patient outcomes. They recognize the value of consistency in the following areas:
Being approachable
Being visible and available
Regularly providing commendation and constructive feedback
Encouraging innovation
Listening to input from staff
Maintaining confidentiality
Promptly addressing workplace stress, bullying, or conflict
Supporting collaboration
Readiness to do physical work in support of the team and their patients
Leading With Integrity
A nurse manager who can recognize and demonstrate core values to the team and those core values gains respect as a leader. Staff members notice and respond positively to a leader who displays a responsible, honest, and competent work ethic. You can ask behavior-based interview questions to learn how a candidate has responded to situations that involved compliance, policy, patient care, or safety protocol.
Concise Communication
Clinical expertise, strategic thinking, and team goals are of little value if they cannot be clearly communicated to the team. Poor communication skills can result in misinterpretations, conflict, and errors. What can encourage you to select a candidate with good communication skills?
During the interview process, ask questions that challenge candidates to provide explanations or instructions.
Listen for clarity in responses.
Don’t ignore indications that a candidate doesn’t communicate clearly.
Staffing Services for Nurse Managers
If you’re looking for nurse managers with proven success, we can simplify the process for you. At WSi Healthcare Personnel, we’ve mastered the technique of screening applicants, verifying their qualifications, and developing skills- and behavior-based interview questions to identify top talent. We’ve been voted as one of the ten most dependable staffing agencies in the West. Consult with us and learn how we can help you find great staff.