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What does a Nursing Supervisor do?

Laura M. Sands
Laura M. Sands

A nursing supervisor monitors, controls and organizes employees and procedures at a hospital, a clinic or other health care setting. A nursing supervisor job description typically includes duties that assure that the facility she or he supervises is adhering to all of the policies, guidelines and protocols necessary to meet the organization’s quality assurance standards. Such expectations include the hiring, evaluating and, when necessary, the promotion and firing of key staff.

A nurse supervisor is also expected to be particularly adept at record keeping and the continuous monitoring of the work site, relevant paperwork and all personnel under her or his management. Most supervisors are also responsible for drafting and maintaining strict budgets to make sure the facility’s supply inventory is always well-equipped while spending reasonable amounts for supplies and necessary operating equipment. All of these responsibilities are expected of a supervisor while, at the same time, she or he must also routinely oversee patient care.

A nursing supervisor must be adept at record keeping.
A nursing supervisor must be adept at record keeping.

While a nursing supervisor may not perform hands-on nursing care for patients, supervisors are ultimately responsible for making sure patients are receiving the best care possible from nurses, aides and other staff members under the nursing supervisor’s management. In this capacity, nursing supervisors must regularly meet with staff members and, occasionally, also meet with patients and their families to address concerns, as well as avoid and resolve conflicts. It is also up to the nursing supervisor to communicate the institution’s policies to all staff members and assure that they understand what is expected of them, and that everyone is adhering to all policies and regulations.

A nursing supervisor must be experienced in handling medical records and other sensitive electronic files.
A nursing supervisor must be experienced in handling medical records and other sensitive electronic files.

As well as being able to effectively manage all aspects of the organization's operation, a nursing supervisor is also relied upon to assist the facility with public relations matters. In doing so, she or he may be called upon to represent the health care facility at community meetings or in other public settings. It is therefore important for nursing supervisors to be strong communicators who get along well with others.

A nurse supervisor may be tasked with ordering and restocking supplies.
A nurse supervisor may be tasked with ordering and restocking supplies.

As a skilled professional, a supervisor is expected to be trained and experienced in most of these duties prior to applying for a supervisory position. A nursing supervisor may receive an average annual salary of $55,000 US Dollars (USD) with some more experienced and specialized nursing supervisor salaries being closer to $100,000 USD per year. Salaries vary according to job specifications and the job’s location.

Discussion Comments

Animandel

@mobilian33 - I agree with you when you say that nurses are bound to get burned out in their jobs from time to time, and becoming a supervisor may help them get re-energized. There are also other ways nurses can change up their jobs and break the monotony.

I know a nurse who was getting tired of her job to the point she was considering quitting and starting a new profession. Then one of her supervisors told her about a traveling nursing jobs program.

The nurse became a traveling nurse. This worked out well for her because getting away from the same environment and the same coworkers and same buildings allowed her to remember why she became a nurse in the first place. She wanted to help people.

mobilian33

Getting close to patients who eventually die, and caring for people in general has to be rather stressful at times. I'm sure many nurses get burned out during their careers. Switching to a nursing supervisor position might be a good way to change up their professions a bit. Supervisors can get a little more distance from the strain of the direct care of patients.

Laotionne

Since so many of the people who go into nursing choose this profession because they want to help people and develop close relationships with their parents, I imagine that being a nursing supervisor in a situation where they are doing primarily administrative work would not appeal to these people.

When my grandmother was in the hospital she had several really good nurses. One of the biggest complaints they seemed to have regarding their jobs was that they had way too much paperwork and way too many meetings and training sessions. What they liked most about their jobs was interacting with patients.

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    • A nursing supervisor must be adept at record keeping.
      By: Rob
      A nursing supervisor must be adept at record keeping.
    • A nursing supervisor must be experienced in handling medical records and other sensitive electronic files.
      By: Tyler Olson
      A nursing supervisor must be experienced in handling medical records and other sensitive electronic files.
    • A nurse supervisor may be tasked with ordering and restocking supplies.
      By: Carolina K Smith MD
      A nurse supervisor may be tasked with ordering and restocking supplies.
    • A nursing supervisor may not perform hands-on nursing care for patients.
      By: Sandor Kacso
      A nursing supervisor may not perform hands-on nursing care for patients.
    • Nursing supervisors make sure staff members are following proper procedures.
      By: sudok1
      Nursing supervisors make sure staff members are following proper procedures.
    • Nursing supervisors occasionally meet with patients and their families to address concerns, as well as avoid and resolve conflicts.
      By: Photographee.eu
      Nursing supervisors occasionally meet with patients and their families to address concerns, as well as avoid and resolve conflicts.
    • A nursing supervisor may ensure that nurses have received sufficient training in patient lifting techniques.
      By: Tyler Olson
      A nursing supervisor may ensure that nurses have received sufficient training in patient lifting techniques.