Some Questions

I'd try working a "floor" med/surg/tele, whatever for at least a year. Then move to critical care, and finally an ambulatory surgery/ outpatient unit for a year. I believe that you need a broad range of experience in order to make good decisions as a manager.

Hi All,

I am currently in nursing school. My long term goal is to get my MSN/MBA, so I can become a hospital adminsitrator. I graduate in may 08 and should be done graduate school by 2011. In terms of preparing myself to become a good leader, what type of unit should I work in? How long should I stay a staff nurse? When should I start looking into managment positions so I can further my career? I know, I havent even graduated yet, but I am big on planning for the future. I am intrested in anyones opinions and there experiences. Thanks

I am in the same boat as you -- I graduate May of 2008 with my BSN, and hope to find my way into nurse management/administration. Perhaps a CNO someday... :stone

I worked at my county hospital for nearly a year (non-nursing job) and was able to meet and get to know the CNO. She was the one who really got me interested in nurse management, and she was telling me to find an area of the hospital I enjoy working in and work my way up the ladder (charge nurse, unit nurse manager, director, etc.) She told me to continue on with my graduate school (MSN along with an MBA or MPH, MPA, etc.) and continually apply to open management positions throughout the hospital.

It definitely helps if you are in an area of the country where there is a severe nursing shortage. I reside in an area where there is a severe shortage of nurses, and there are literally 100's of open positions around the city -- that means there are many open management positions. I have a few friends who were charge nurses 6 months out of school. Furthermore, I also have a nursing friend who has been a nurse for a short 4 years and has worked her way up to a Director of Trauma.

Thanks guys for your responses! I'd love to hear from more people.

My thoughts would be to start out on the floor in staffing and then move into the Critical Care setting. I absolutely think you need to work in a few different areas to have a "feel" for how things are. I worked on several different specialty floors and the ICU before taking a job in management. All the while I went part-time to earn my MSN. I also think that at least 5 years of bedside nursing experience is important before taking a charge position. That's just my opinion though.