Management of Nursing and Health Care Services

ICN Position:

Nursing has a responsibility to contribute to health planning and policy, and to the coordination and management of health services. ICN expects nurses to contribute to health policy locally, nationally and internationally through management and leadership roles and through professional nursing associations. The need for excellence of management in nursing and health care services must be actively promoted.

ICN strongly holds that nurse managers must be directly responsible for managing nursing services, and that they are well equipped to manage other health services. While they may be employed within program areas, departments or organisations where they report to nurse or non-nurse managers in all cases it is the nursing profession that is accountable for the scope and standards of nursing practice.

Nursing should advocate for equal remuneration and opportunities for nurses’ preparation for management, policy development and leadership as is available to other health personnel being prepared for senior positions in the health sector.

Background:

Nurse managers roles and functions are continually being re-defined in the context of health sector change.

In restructured health services, nurse managers should be directly responsible for managing nursing services. They advise other managers whose staff includes nurses on matters pertaining to professional nursing. Nurses may also be managers in other areas of the health services.

Leadership is an essential component of management. It is also critical that nurse leaders are developed for nursing. Nursing leadership includes coaching and mentoring others, and creating an environment and conditions for ongoing development and quality care. Leadership through professional nurses associations develops the profession and positions it strategically to influence health planning and policy.

Maintaining networks and linkages with and between key stakeholders is essential to effective leadership and management. Also critical is the ability to continually assess the environment, to monitor performance, and to create or adapt to change as required.

Educational preparation for management will vary according to the roles and career paths of nurse managers. ICN has a role in promoting sound education for management and leadership. Professional nursing associations can assist by identifying relevant opportunities and promoting these to their members. Individual nurses must take responsibility for their own education, and develop the ability to plan and manage this strategically.

The preparation of nurses for management and policy should enable them to assume roles as either managers of nursing services or education, or as managers of health care services, or in health policy. In developing nurses as managers, it is recognized that leadership development is a critical component of management development, as well as being a major priority for nursing generally.

Nurses need to select appropriate uni- or multi-disciplinary programs to prepare them effectively for management, policy development and leadership in different settings and at different stages of their professional and career development. Preparation should support the importance of continuous learning that is adapted to changing needs and expectations. It should include emphasis on the development of relevant skills and attributes, not just the acquisition of knowledge.

Achievements of nurse managers need to be rewarded in the same ways as other managers. At the same time nurse managers need to demonstrate the benefits of their inclusion in key positions.  Appropriate position classifications, equal to other managers at the same level and according to their professional attributes and their level of responsibility, should apply to nurse managers.

Adopted in 2000