CNO vs. Dept. Manager

Specialties Management

Published

I've been a nurse manager now for 3 years. Some of it I like, some of it I don't - Specifically, staffing and scheduling, as well as disciplining. And, of course when staffing isn't what it needs to be, I'm the one working the floor on the holiday weekend. :(. So, recently I was told that I would make a good CNO... Can someone boil down the biggest pros and cons to that role for me? Of course I have my boss as an example, but would like others' input.

I don't see myself in my current role forever, but am not sure what's next. The CNO role that awas mentioned to me is not opening for a few years. However, there IS an opening nearby right now...

Sometimes I get so frustrated with healthcare in general (especially the government's BS) that I try to think of something different I could do unrelated to healthcare!!

What are your experiences?

jrt4

244 Posts

It sounds like you are working at a small healthcare system since the manager reports directly to the CNO. The CNO position is meant to be an executive leader position to direct quality and productivity of nursing across the organization. Typically what I have seen is several "director" positions that report to the CNO. The directors have nurse managers who are the front line managers for individual units. The CNO is typically more of the face of nursing at the organization. I have also seen CNOs be responsible for ancillary departments as the executive leader. Its different in every organization.

owensmommy

35 Posts

Typically, unless you are working in a smaller hospital, there are nursing directors in between the CNO and nurse managers. The director role is a nice stepping stone to gain other important leadership skills before taking the responsibility of all nursing departments. As a nurse manager, I was not focused on the big picture. I was more focused on the day-to-day operations of my unit. Staffing and schedules took up a big part of my days. At the director role, you learn to think more globally. You become more familiar with overall hospital operations and see how each areas interlinks to one another. Director level also allows you to be more involved with projects and strategy.

Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

OP: The other two posters are correct. In fact, I think you should actually look at becoming a director before becoming a CNO. If you jump right into CNO in any place other than what you have described in your facility, you are skipping 1-2 steps that are necessary in your career growth in order to be successful in the CNO role. For example, my manager does not work as Charge Nurse ever, she does not provide direct patient care when short staffed, she does not worry about staffing on a day-to-day-moment-to-moment basis, and she does not have to deal with disciplinary issues for the most part because most being disciplined are the direct reports of her Assistant Nurse Managers. Specifically we the Assistant Nurse Managers lead the way with issues at the department level, seek advice when needed, and keep our manager informed so she is never blind-sided. In fact, she gives us the authority to make many of the decisions to keep the department running on a day-to-day basis freeing her up to handle the overall operations for several departments and to work with other directors, the CNO, and other executive level managers to support the operations of the hospital.

On the other hand, if you have the opportunity to be mentored/trained well for the CNO role that can translate into working in a bigger facility or you are only interested in working as a CNO in smaller facilities, then go for it. I am one that believes in accepting opportunities when they are available because they do not come along often. Good Luck!

mommy2boysaz

288 Posts

Specializes in OB.

Thank you all very much for clarifying the difference in positions among smaller vs. larger facilities. Gave me much to consider!

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