From nursing to nursing administration: making the transition easier

When nurses get involved in nursing administration, they may experience difficulties with the managerial role. There are several reasons why these difficulties occur: failure to recognize that the skills required for management are different than those required for nursing; refusing to "let go" of former nursing duties; inconsistent emphasis on the development of managerial capability among nursing supervisors; and insufficient formal training in management. Suggestions for making the transition to management easier are presented. These include developing the proper mix of skills for management; delegating authority properly; systematizing on-the-job-training for supervisors; and restructuring the formal academic preparation that nurses receive while in B.N. programs.