Chief Nursing Officers: Room at the Top |
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September 13, 2006
by Gabby Hyman
gabby.hyman@healthcare-programs.com
Healthcare Programs Columnist
American healthcare jobs rose by 23,000 new employees in April for 2006, and one of the hottest career fields for healthcare job professionals continues to be chief nursing officers (CNO), where candidates are sparse. According to Career Journal, CNOs are well paid with salaries in the $200,000 range. However, few nurses who have graduated from a nursing degree program are willing to take the 18 months of graduate business or management training to qualify for these premium jobs. Yet, as Monster.com reports, many nurses can launch their CNO skills knowledge early in their careers.
Entry Level CNO Requirements
A California healthcare jobs site recently reported an opening for an entry CNO. Requirements called for eight years of nursing experience, a minimum of a BS in nursing, and preferably a master's degree in nursing or healthcare administration. CNOs almost always begin their nursing careers as floor nurses, moving up to directing teams or patient populations in a healthcare organization.
Turn a Bachelor's in Nursing into a Top Career
If you've already completed your undergraduate nursing degree program and are working in the profession, you can plan your ascent to management by entering a campus-based or online master's in nursing degree program. CNOs traditionally work under the guidance of the healthcare facility's chief executive officer. That means you'll want to enroll in a graduate nursing degree program with a focus on management so that you'll understand key management concepts.
Master's Degree in Nursing and Beyond
CNOs also undertake business graduate degrees and broaden their working experience to a variety of patient populations and medical departments. The wider you build your experience platform, the greater your opportunity to rise to an oversight position. Depending on your capability, you can strengthen your candidacy by pursuing a healthcare PhD with a concentration in management.
Sources
About the Author
Gabby Hyman has created online strategies and written content for Fortune 500 companies including eToys, GoTo.com, Siebel Systems, Microsoft Encarta, Avaya, and Nissan UK.
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