The minimum educational requirement for nurse managers varies from one employer to another.
Some employers will allow an experienced RN to assume the role of nurse manager without completing a baccalaureate degree.
Other employers require a minimum of a bachelor's degree in nursing. The American Nurses Credentialing Center administers the Magnet program, which recognizes qualifying medical facilities for excellence in nursing. Starting January 1, 2013, 100 percent of a hospital's nurse managers must have baccalaureate or graduate degrees in nursing for the facility to qualify for this program. As more employers seek Magnet status, more nurses will need to earn baccalaureate degrees if they wish to become nurse managers.