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Andrea Lewis, RN, agrees. Formerly the nurse manager for the pulmonary unit at Presbyterian Hospital, she believes the possibilities for nurses moving into management are endless. Three years of appropriate clinical experience and a background as a staff or charge nurse are required, she said.

"Nurse managers should have rapport with doctors, as well as the ability to identify patient issues and track nurse-patient ratios," she added.

A former resident of Alberta, Canada, Lewis migrated to Dallas in 1996. She is now a nurse recruiter for the human resources department of Presbyterian Hospital. With the increasingly aging population in the country, more qualified nurses will need to be hired. As a recruiter, Lewis uses her expertise to locate new applicants.

"Nursing opens a whole world to you," she said.

In addition, Presbyterian Hospital provides on-site training and education to individuals who want to move up the management ladder. "Individuals can apply for nurse manager positions at any time," said Lewis, who said the pay ranges from $54,000 to $70,000.

Willis and Lewis admit that working as a nurse manager requires long hours, but the results are rewarding. Lewis has entered another challenging area, with a substantial pay raise. For the moment, Willis enjoys working on the management level, because it gives him an overview of the hospital procedure.

"It enables me to have more autonomy and control," he said. "By serving on committees, I have more say about what happens, and I'm able to achieve greater results."

Pamela Stone's articles about women's isssues are distributed by the New York Times and Los Angeles Times Syndicates. Her latest book, A Woman's Guide to Living Alone: 10 Ways to Survive Grief and Be Happy, is available at national chain bookstores and online. Contact her at pamstone3@aol.com