Nurse manager characteristics and skills: curriculum implications

If one accepts the premise that all nurses need knowledge of management and leadership, then schools of nursing need to design their curriculum to provide administrative content and learning experiences to adequately prepare nurses for leadership positions. This study assays the opinions of nurse unit managers about the relative importance of different characteristics and skills in effective job performance. A sample of 73 unit managers from six hospitals and two community health agencies ranked human relations and communication skills as most important. Nursing knowledge and clinical skills were ranked second. Experienced managers thought political savvy and business or management skills were more important than did novice managers. The results of this study are discussed in relation to curriculum issues in nursing management at both the baccalaureate and the graduate level.