Profile of the Administrative Supervisor: What Do We Know?

Abstract

Administrative supervisors, the nurse leaders during the evening, night, and weekend shifts, enable hospitals to function 24 hours a day, 7 days a week delivering safe, quality patient care. Although this role has been present for more than 100 years,1 research on the value of these nurse leaders is just beginning. The uniqueness of this leadership role was uncovered by the primary author during interviews with 30 administrative supervisors who worked in acute care hospitals in 20 different states. In this qualitative, focused ethnographic study, the role responsibilities and processes by which the supervisors “make it work,” doing whatever is necessary to get the patients, staff, and hospital safely through the night were identified.2,3 The profile of the administrative supervisor was also revealed in the interviews: the position title, span of control, reporting relationship, hours worked, and the key skills needed.