Nursing coordinators and supervisors
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors:
- Co-ordinate and supervise the activities of registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel in the provision of patient care
- Work for health care institutions such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes, and nursing agencies
Job Titles
Duties
Head nurses and supervisors support the overall functionality of nursing units by performing some or all of the following duties:
- Supervise registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel
- Set up and coordinate nursing services in conjunction with other health services
- Make sure quality nursing care is provided and appropriate managerial procedures are followed
- Help with the establishment of unit policies and procedures
- Do budget planning, manage unit budget and make sure that supplies and equipment are available
- Help with human resource management planning (selection, evaluation and professional development of personnel)
- Collaborate on research projects related to nursing and medical care and multidisciplinary services
- Evaluate patients' needs and make sure that required nursing care is delivered
- May provide direct patient care
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,615% Employed Full Time
76%Workers in this occupational group typically work 36–40 hours per week. Nurse managers and coordinators generally work in health-care facilities, such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
A number of potential hazards exist in this profession. For example, working in hospitals and clinics can expose employees to infectious diseases, radiation and chemicals. Violent behaviour from patients, particularly those who are suffering from mental illness or acute drug reactions, is also a potential hazard.
The use of computers has increased in recent years, so repetitive wrist strain injuries may occur. Nurse managers and coordinators may also experience stress due to the nature of the work, such as dealing with emergencies or patient medical conditions.
All health-care staff follow strict guidelines to prevent infection and injury. Since workers in this profession rarely provide direct patient care, the risks are minimal.
Career Pathways
Three to five years of clinical experience as a registered nurse or in another health-care discipline is required before becoming a nurse manager or coordinator.
With experience, head nurses and supervisors may advance to management positions such as directors of nursing.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
Completion of a university degree and experience (three to five years) in the field is generally the minimum requirement to become nurse supervisors and coordinators. Requirements may include:
- Courses in management studies, such as the Nursing Unit Administration Course offered by the Canadian Hospital Association
- Other degree, diploma, certificate or studies in management or administration
- Completion of a master's degree, with sufficient experience, for nurse managers
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing
- Registered Nursing (RN) Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,615Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 35 | 2.2% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 1.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,020 | 63.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.9% |
| Northeast | 25 | 1.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 175 | 10.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 305 | 18.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
1,360Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 10 | 1.6% |
| Kootenay | 10 | 1.1% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 900 | 2.3% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.1% |
| Northeast | 10 | 0.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 120 | 2.1% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 290 | 2.4% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,360 |
Insights from Industry
This is an expanding field, with an annual growth rate above the provincial average due to greater health-care needs of an aging population. A significant number of openings will come from retirements.
Technological changes and government policies will affect this occupational group, and may shift job opportunities from acute care to other patient-care facilities. As well, the increasing complexity of health care will drive the need for more of these positions.
Industry reports that downsizing will likely not occur in the coming years since there has been a constant increase in opportunities over the last 10 years. In addition, the current supply of these workers is low likely because of the extensive experience (three to five years) required to enter these positions.
Resources
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B.C. Ministry of Healthwww.gov.bc.ca/health/
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BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU)www.bcnu.org
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British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)www.bccnm.ca/Pages/Default.aspx
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Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)www.cna-aiic.ca/en