Nursing coordinators and supervisors
High opportunity occupation
Career Overview
Nursing coordinators and supervisors are registered nurses who coordinate and supervise the activities of other registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel in the provision of patient care. Healthcare institutions such as hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and nursing agencies often employ nursing coordinators and supervisors to guide their teams.
Job Titles
Duties
Head nurses and supervisors support the overall functionality of nursing units by performing some or all the following duties:
- Supervise registered nurses, licensed practical nurses and other nursing personnel
- Set up and coordinate nursing services in conjunction with other health services
- Make sure quality nursing care is provided and appropriate managerial procedures are followed
- Help with the establishment of unit policies and procedures
- Plan budgets, manage unit budget and make sure that supplies and equipment are available
- Help with human resource management planning (selection, evaluation and professional development of personnel)
- Collaborate on research projects related to nursing and medical care and multidisciplinary services
- Evaluate patients' needs and make sure that required nursing care is delivered
- Can provide direct patient care in the manner of a registered nurse
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
1,615% Employed Full Time
76%Workers in this occupational group typically work 36–40 hours per week. Nurse managers and coordinators generally work in health-care facilities, such as hospitals, clinics and nursing homes.
Nursing coordinators and supervisors need to be able to multi-task and handle stress well in a complex and fast-paced environment. Nurses frequently encounter stressful emotional situations involving people in significant distress and must cope with the emotional aspects of working with the sick, injured and terminally ill as well as their families. Although this role is more administrative and less hands-on than most registered nurse positions, nursing coordinators and supervisors should still be able to perform complex motor tasks such as removing surgical drains, nasogastric feeding tubes and similar medical devices safely in the event that they must perform registered nurse duties. In all cases, safety precautions and equipment are required to avoid injury. Since workers in this profession rarely provide direct patient care, the risks are minimal.
Technology is also changing the way nursing coordinators and supervisors do their job. Increasingly, nurses work remotely, providing tele-health, and the use of electronic health records is changing all medical practices. Documentation methods have also advanced.
Career Pathways
Three to five years of clinical experience as a registered nurse are required to become a nursing coordinator or supervisor. On occasion, a similar amount of experience in another healthcare discipline is accepted instead. Informal and formal leadership roles are important components of the necessary experience and aspiring nursing coordinators and supervisors should seek out such opportunities in their workplaces. Familiarity with research, policy and best practice guidelines are also recommended.
With experience, nursing coordinators and supervisors can advance to managerial positions such as nursing director, executive director, and chief nursing officer.
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
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Education, Training and Skills
In addition to meeting all requirements for becoming a registered nurse (RN), nursing coordinators and supervisors require three to five years of experience as registered nurses. In addition to the registered nurse designation and job experience, nursing coordinator and supervisor positions often require one or more of the following:
- Courses in management studies, such as the Nursing Unit Administration Course offered by the Canadian Hospital Association
- Other degree, diploma, certificate or studies in management or administration
- Completion of a master of science in nursing or similar degree, especially for nurse managers
Nursing coordinators and supervisors are not a regulated profession separate from registered nurses. See the registered nurse profile for more information.
Education programs in B.C.
Top Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Actively looking for ways to help people.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
1,615Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 35 | 2.2% |
| Kootenay | 30 | 1.9% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 1,020 | 63.4% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 30 | 1.9% |
| Northeast | 25 | 1.6% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 175 | 10.9% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 305 | 18.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2025-2035)
1,480Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2025-2035)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 20 | 2.1% |
| Kootenay | 20 | 2.2% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 960 | 2.2% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 10 | 0.9% |
| Northeast | 20 | 1.3% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 130 | 2.2% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 320 | 2.3% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2025-2035) |
|---|---|
| Health Care and Social Assistance | 1,480 |
Insights from Industry
B.C. has long faced a shortage of nursing positions in general, exacerbated by a population that is both growing and aging, especially in rural and northern parts of the province. This has included nursing coordinators and supervisors. However, shifts in provincial health authority review and policy have moved the nursing job market toward registered nurses and nurse practitioners, reducing openings for nursing coordinators and supervisors. Technology is also enabling a smaller number of coordinators and supervisors to coordinate and supervise larger teams. Going forward, openings for nursing coordinators and supervisors are likely to be much more competitive. However, positions are also opening in nursing homes and other sorts of care facilities, separate from the acute care facilities where nursing coordinators and supervisors have historically been in highest demand.
Resources
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B.C. Ministry of Healthwww.gov.bc.ca/health/
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BC Nurses’ Union (BCNU)www.bcnu.org
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British Columbia College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM)www.bccnm.ca/Pages/Default.aspx
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Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)www.cna-aiic.ca/en
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British Columbia Institute of Technology – Health Leadership Certificatewww.bcit.ca/programs/health-leadership-advanced-certificate-part-time-6860adcert/
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Canadian Nurses Association (CAN) – Inspire Nursing: A LEADS-based Leadership Programwww.cna-aiic.ca/en/news-events/upcoming-events/inspire-nursing
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Nurses and Nurse Practitioners of British Columbia (NNPBC)www.nnpbc.com
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University of Victoria – Advanced Practice Leadership (MN)www.uvic.ca/graduate/programs/graduate-programs/credential-pages/nursing-cred/advanced-practice-leadership-apl.php