Written by Esme Wang.
Thanks to new technological advancements, evolving care models, and the intrusion of artificial intelligence in the healthcare industry, it has become more important than ever for nurses to hone their skills, expand their knowledge, and come up as real leaders in the field.
Various innovative online programs have now emerged to help those professionals develop the leadership skills needed to deal with the challenges of modern healthcare systems. These programs use a combination of cutting-edge curriculum and real-world training to prepare the next generation of nurse leaders to drive positive change in today’s challenging healthcare environment.
The Growing Importance of Nurse Leadership
Nurse leaders are vital for establishing patient-centered care cultures in healthcare organizations. The knowledge they bring to the facility helps improve the safety and quality of healthcare services, which also plays a role in driving innovation in clinical practices.
Nurse leaders also serve as a connection between bedside nursing and administrative decisions, ultimately ensuring the focus remains on meeting the highest patient care standards. They are in a position to achieve all that because they have clinical expertise, interpersonal skills, and strategic vision, which puts them in a position to mentor nursing teams, advocate for patients, and introduce/implement best practices.
The Importance of Degree and Non-Degree Innovative Online Programs
Innovative online programs, both degree and non-degree options, have really made it possible to prepare the next generation of nurse leaders in the best way possible. The most impressive thing about these innovative programs is that they are highly flexible and allow nurses to pursue advanced education while fulfilling their current job responsibilities.
The introduction of a cutting-edge curriculum is another benefit of going for innovative online programs. They focus on the latest developments in healthcare, including quality improvement, information technology and evidence-based practice. If you are already a registered nurse (RN), you can find many full-length programs and certifications to expand your knowledge and move up to leadership roles in various healthcare settings. Here are some of the best options to consider:
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Programs
It wouldn’t be wrong to suggest that DNP programs represent the pinnacle of nursing education that prepares nursing professionals, especially advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) to take leadership roles in various healthcare settings. These programs equip these professionals with the skills and knowledge required to improve health policy, patient care, and health systems as a whole.
The availability of online DNP programs has made it much easier for busy nurses to improve their knowledge and expand their career prospects. It is worth mentioning that most DNP programs are at least a couple of years long and require full-time study beyond a master’s degree, but it changes if you opt for accelerated BSN-to-DNP tracks. Mostly, your coursework covers various areas, such as quality improvement, evidence-based practice, informatics, health policy, and organizational leadership. The DNP project is also part of these programs and involves applying the knowledge in real-life situations.
Going for a DNP program is a great option for nurses interested in moving to leadership positions. Depending on the institute and curriculum, the program prepares nurses with the knowledge and skills needed for high-level decision-making in various settings. They learn how to translate research into real-life situations to drive improvements.
The programs also teach them how to decipher healthcare policy and get ready for executive roles like Chief Nursing Officer. With these credentials under your belt, you may be allowed to lead interdisciplinary teams where you can influence organizational strategy and take patient safety initiatives.
When selecting an online DNP program, it’s vital to consider exactly what’s included and how comprehensive the curriculum is. For instance, the best programs will have flexible, asynchronous coursework so you can complete most things on your own schedule. Similarly, it is a good idea to pick a program where you are allowed short on-campus residences, as it facilitates networking and hands-on learning.
Similarly, the use of virtual simulation is something that makes online courses a lot more interactive and easier for students to practice skills remotely. Getting one-on-one guidance and opportunities to work with other students are other important factors to consider. Many new degree programs offer all these features, like Wilkes University, where you can find a 100% online DNP program with 12-week courses and ample student support. It offers three start dates a year and stands as an affordable path to completing your DNP degree.
Once you complete your degree, you can join various healthcare settings to perform influential leadership roles, including health system executive, chief nursing officer, clinical director, health policy advisor, quality improvement director, nurse entrepreneur and so on. No matter the role you choose, you will have the knowledge to drive improvements in patient outcomes and care delivery.
Health Care Manager Certification
When it comes to non-degree options, RNs can choose from various programs designed to help them excel in management roles. Healthcare Manager Certification by the AIHCP is one interesting option because it prepares RNs with advanced leadership and management skills. It is among the most popular certification programs considering it focuses on front-line managers as well as department directors.
Quite like many other certification programs, it requires at least 220 contact hours with a focus on essential topics, such as leadership, healthcare administration, quality management, and human resources. Considering the curriculum, it is safe to say that the program is not directly aimed at executive-level positions but is more geared towards professionals interested in improving their competitiveness in management roles.
However, the good thing is that the program offers access to various resources, including e-newsletters, professional publications and thought-leadership articles. This ongoing access to information helps certified managers update their knowledge keeping industry trends in mind.
To be eligible for the certification, you must be a licensed social worker or a registered nurse or have a bachelor’s degree in a health-related field. It also requires you to have no less than five years of work experience in any healthcare setting with a focus on management duties. Also, bear in mind that the certification is good for four years, after which you will have to go through a recertification process, which requires 50 hours of continuing education.
The interesting thing is that once you complete the certification, you gain a competitive edge in the healthcare job market because of your advanced management skills. The certification also serves as a stepping stone to various top-level executive roles, such as Chief Nursing Officer or other C-suite positions in the healthcare industry. The job outlook for those completing the HCM-C certification is quite positive as a whole, with a 28% growth projected until 2031.
Nursing Management Certification
While a Health Care Manager Certification focuses on overall healthcare management and administration, a Nursing Management Certification is focused only on nursing leadership and management skills. A healthcare manager learns more about topics like human resources, healthcare finance, and operations, whereas a nursing management program includes clinical leadership and nursing administration.
The Nursing Management Certification by the AIHCP is an interesting choice because it is primarily designed for RNs looking to improve their skills in nursing management. The program requires 270 contact hours of continuing education and is focused on maintaining high educational standards while providing mechanisms for peer advisory oversight to ensure its relevance.
To qualify, you need to be a registered nurse in the U.S or come with an equivalent international license. Once completed, you will receive your certification that is valid for four years after which you will have to apply for recertification that involves 50 hours of continuing education.
As a nursing manager, you will be responsible for facilitating communication between nursing staff and top-level management in a healthcare setting to ensure proper transmission and implementation of policies, directives, and feedback. Staff nurses will also look up to you for any support they might need related to patient care and assistance to patients’ family members during visits.
Nursing managers are required to help nurses handle electronic health records more effectively. Their role is especially appreciated in settings where the organizations haven’t already embraced e-health records, as a nurse manager can guide them and explain how to file and access them as a patient or a physician.
Your duties become more complicated when you complete your certification and start working as a nursing manager. However, iit also offers many opportunities to excel in your career and find more job opportunities with higher earning potential.
Endnote
Considering how quickly the healthcare industry is evolving due to a huge shift in care models and patients’ expectations, it’s vital to have a new generation of leaders to drive innovation in the healthcare field. Various innovative online programs, both degree and non-degree options, are available and help healthcare professionals to expand their knowledge without compromising their existing jobs.
Whether you should opt for a full-length degree or go with a certification depends on your future goals and time constraints. Remember, degree programs are longer, but are going to offer new opportunities and better salaries. Take your time, consider your unique circumstances, and then enroll online to learn new skills to lead the ever-changing healthcare industry.
Author Bio:
Esme Wang is a copywriter and content strategist. She helps businesses stop playing around with content marketing and start seeing the tangible ROI. She loves writing as much as she loves the cake.
Please also review AIHCP’s Health Care Manager Certification programs and see if it meets your academic and professional goals. These programs are online and independent study and open to qualified professionals seeking a four year certification