Salary, qualifications for a Nursing Floor Manager?

[jvdb]

I have aspirations to become manager of my small specialized floor one day. I really am not interested in pursuing my masters however may end up doing so if 100% needed. It is a surgical floor on which I have experience on and frequently take charge when the head nurse is away. I have also taken the OR course and have experience in the OR of that specialty as well.

Our current manager has her BN and ICU experience and was required to take some management courses when she began her position.

I am not looking for the position immediately, I am a fairly new nurse but would gradually over a few years like to work towards being a qualified candidate.

So my two questions are:

#1, what is the salary for most nursing managers?

#2, what should I be spending my time on to make me a logical choice when the job does open up? (i'm thinking 5-10 years down the road)

[Fiona59]

Unit Manager positions are usually excluded from the union so there is no real protection if the health authority decides you don't meet the grade.

It's less than $100K in my region. Had a friend who decided not to go for his unit's opening when he found out the wages. Said he'd make more as a floor nurse.

Finance courses, administration courses, negotiating with difficult people are all skills that re required.