From registered nurse to senior director of patient care, discover a rewarding career path in nursing at Northwell Health.

Are you interested in growing your nursing career at Northwell Health? Our nurses can advance their careers through various personal and professional resources and development programs. This includes continuing education opportunities through our Center for Learning and Innovation (CLI), Institute for Nursing, mentorships, Business Employee Resource Groups (BERGs), tuition reimbursement and more.

Below, you can explore one of the many ways you can grow your career from a registered nurse to a senior director of patient care. For the complete job profiles of each role, we invite you to visit NorthwellCareers.com or click the link below to get started on this career journey as a registered nurse. Discover a career well cared for in nursing at Northwell today.

View our available nursing roles today.

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses perform an age specific plan of care for a designated group of patients using the nursing process of assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. They collaborate with physicians and other health team members in coordinating and implementing procedures and treatments. Nurses also use leadership skills and clinical judgment in coordinating patient care to direct and delegate activities of the patient care unit team.

• Graduate from an accredited school of nursing, required. Bachelor’s degree in nursing, preferred. Must be enrolled in an accredited BSN program within two (2) years and obtain a BSN Degree within five (5) years of job entry date.
• Current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State required, plus specialized certifications as needed.

Following a registered nurse, you may look to transition to an assistant nurse manager of patient care by advancing your clinical skills and gaining leadership experience.

Assistant Nurse Manager, Patient Care
An assistant nurse manager (ANM) of patient care, under the leadership of the manager, has shift related fiscal, clinical and operational accountability. The ANM is responsible for a direct care unit or units within Northwell Health. Utilizing the nursing process, the ANM is responsible for creating a safe, healthy work environment that supports delivery of high-quality patient and family centered care in a healing environment. The role is influential in supporting a professional environment and fostering a culture where highly engaged interdisciplinary team members are able to contribute to optimal patient outcomes and to grow professionally. The ANM maintains clinical expertise and knowledge in order to provide direct care as a key component of their role.

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
• Requires current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Requires four (4) to six (6) years of technical experience and up to two (2) years of leadership and management experience.

As you look to move forward in your career path into a manager of patient care you will continue advancing your leadership skills. You may also want to consider taking part in a mentorship program.

Manager, Patient Care
As a manager of patient care, under the leadership of the patient care director, the manager has 24/7 fiscal, clinical and operational accountability. They are responsible for a direct care unit or units within Northwell Health. Utilizing the nursing process, the manager is responsible for creating a safe, healthy work environment that supports delivery of high-quality patient and family centered care in a healing milieu. The manager fosters a culture where highly engaged interdisciplinary team members are able to contribute to optimal patient outcomes and to grow professionally.

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
• Master in Nursing, preferred.
• Requires current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• At least five (5) years of nursing experience with evidence of leadership mastery at the assistant manager level or equivalent such as charge RN, team lead, council chair, project manager, or above.

While advancing your career into a senior manager, you will continue leveraging your clinical skills while also gaining more experience leading a team. You may also continue broadening your financial and quality management skills through leadership courses and networking opportunities throughout the healthcare system.

Senior Manager, Patient Care
As a senior manager of patient care, you will manage and direct inpatient units and overall assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. Senior managers carry out the strategic planning, clinical management, patient care, budgeting, financial management and quality management. You will also foster an environment of collaboration and respect with physician colleagues, nurses and other healthcare team members.

• Requires a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BSN).
• Requires current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Requires six (6) to ten (10) years of technical experience and five (5) to seven (7) years of leadership and management experience.

As you continue your path to becoming a director of patient care and pursue a master’s degree in nursing, it  will allow you to continue advancing your leadership, management and financial skills.

Director, Patient Care
As director of patient care, you will assume 24-hour responsibility for multiple units within designated service lines for the overall assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care on the service. The position is critical in carrying out the system, hospital and nursing service mission, vision, values.  As a key stakeholder, the director plays an integral role in the development and execution of the overall strategic plan. The emphasis of the plan includes growth and business development, along with the goal of obtaining top quartile clinical, fiscal and patient care outcomes for their area of responsibility. With a focus on creating a healthy work environment, the director promotes the health system service standards and creates a highly engaged, patient focused, caring environment that addresses the needs of patients and their families in an individualized manner. This role functions as a key clinical leader who communicates regularly with the physician leader and departmental administrator. They foster an environment of collaboration and respect with interprofessional colleagues and the entire health care team.

• Requires a master’s degree in nursing.
• Requires current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• At least eight (8) years of nursing experience with evidence of at least three (3) of those years with progressive leadership experience at the manager level or equivalent.

While continuing your journey to become a senior director, you will be broadening your clinical knowledge as a leader through continuing education and networking.

Senior Director, Patient Care
As a senior director of patient care, you assume 24-hour responsibility for multiple units or departments and multiple sites to develop and implement strategic plans, drive departmental goals and objectives, improve departmental performance and hire, educate, evaluate, manage and develop staff.

• Requires a master’s degree in nursing or related field.
• Requires current license to practice as a registered professional nurse in New York State, plus specialized certifications as needed.
• Requires eight (8) to twelve (12) years of technical experience.
• Requires seven (7) or more years of leadership and/or management experience.