How to Become a Nurse Leader in California

Are you a nurse or healthcare professional who is constantly thinking about the big picture — specifically how to deliver more efficient and effective care and how to create a better environment for patients and staff alike? If so, you may be cut out for the role of a nurse leader.

Nurse leaders take on many different titles and responsibilities, but they ultimately have one thing in common: they leverage their professional experience, advanced education or training, and knowledge of the latest trends and developments within the nursing space to lead teams, innovate healthcare environments, and improve the quality of care.

We have laid out the general steps for becoming a nurse leader in California — but before we dive into that roadmap, let’s explore what different nurse leader roles look like.

What are the different types of nurse leader roles?

As a nurse leader, you may be in charge of managing the day-to-day clinical activities of other nurses, overseeing a specific team or department. Or you may be more involved in administrative duties, such as hiring and training nurses and other staff members, creating or improving policies and procedures, ensuring legal compliance, handling budgets, and more.

Here are just some of the many different types of nurse leader roles you may encounter:

Chief nursing officer (CNO)
Chief nurse executive (CNE)
Nurse administrator
Director of nursing (DON)
Clinical nurse leader (CNL)
Nurse manager
Nurse supervisor
Charge nurse

In addition to these formal titles, nurses may also step into leadership activities in other ways, such as by becoming a nurse mentor or preceptor, volunteering for a healthcare committee within their organization, or taking steps to help shape public policy impacting nursing and healthcare.

Where there are no set criteria for nurse leaders across the board, certain roles may require more advanced degrees, specific certifications, or a certain amount of professional clinical experience, so it’s important to do your research to better understand the requirements for the specific type of nurse leader role you want to pursue.

Now that you have a better understanding of what nurse leadership can look like within an organization, here are five steps for becoming a nurse leader in California.

Step 1: Become a Licensed RN in California

The first step on your path to becoming a nurse leader in California will be obtaining your license as a registered nurse in this state. This will require earning an Associate Degree of Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and then passing the NCLEX-RN, or the National Council Licensure Examination for registered nurses.

You will then need to submit your application for licensure with the California Board of Registered Nursing (BRN). Once you become licensed, you’ll be in good company, as California is the state with the highest number of employed RNs in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Learn more about the steps for becoming an RN in California.

Step 2: Gain Clinical Experience

Hands-on experience in direct patient care as a licensed RN is essential in your journey to becoming a nurse leader. This will give you first-hand knowledge concerning the challenges that nurses face every day, how to problem-solve through those challenges, how to effectively engage with patients and other healthcare professionals, and more.

Working for at least a few years as a RN will lay a critical foundation as you work your way up into leadership roles, where you will be expected to understand all the dynamics involved in managing and supporting nursing teams. Building your clinical experience can also help you meet the eligibility requirements for an advanced education program or professional certification.

Step 3: Earn an Advanced Degree or Certificate

After gaining some experience as a licensed RN, you can take the next step of earning an advanced degree or certificate with a focus on nurse leadership. If you already have a BSN, the natural next step would be a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialization in nurse leadership.

If you don’t already have a bachelor’s degree, you could take advantage of an RN to MSN program specialized in nurse leadership that allows you to leverage your professional nursing experience toward your BSN and MSN in one program.

If you already have a master’s degree in another field, you could complete a post-master’s certificate with focus in nurse leadership. Additionally, some individuals choose to pursue a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which may be helpful for more advanced nurse leadership roles, such as a chief nursing officer position, another healthcare executive position, or a role highly focused on helping shape public policy.

All of these educational paths are available at West Coast University as online programs:

Step 4: Get Certified in Nurse Leadership or Management

While it is possible to become a nurse leader without a certification, it may be required for certain positions. For example, it is common for healthcare employers to require or prefer clinical nurse leaders to have the Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) certification from American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN).

There are also other professional certifications that nurses can obtain to demonstrate their expertise in leadership, especially when seeking nurse executive or administrator roles. These include the:

Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) certification from the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL)
Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP) certification from the AONL
Nurse Executive Board Certified (NE-BC) certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

As part of your certification, you will likely need to take an exam and meet certain educational and professional requirements, such as having a specific number of years of clinical experience. If you do earn a certification, you will need to get it renewed every few years (e.g., the CNL certification must be renewed every five years).

Step 5: Apply for Jobs and Begin Your New Career

Now it’s time for the exciting part — landing the job you always wanted and impacting your new organization for the better. Make sure to tap into your network, leveraging the connections you have made as a licensed nurse and in your degree or certificate program. Don’t forget to check with your educational institution to see what career support resources are available for alumni.

For example, West Coast University students and alumni have access to career services specialists who can provide one-on-one coaching, professional development resources, and job search assistance.

Get Started on Your Nurse Leader Education

If you’re looking for a program that can help you achieve your goal of becoming a nurse leader, explore the programs available at West Coast University. Whether you need to complete your bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, post-master’s education, or you want to go all the way for a doctorate degree, WCU offers the comprehensive education you need to prepare for your future career along with flexible options such as online programs and multiple program paces.

Learn about West Coast University and apply today.

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