Nursing administrators are part of the administration team of a hospital, nursing home, or any healthcare facility. They are in charge of hiring all of the nursing staff, making out their schedules and assigning job duties. They oversee the nurses and make sure that they are giving a high quality of care. They also help set the budget and make sure the patients and staff has what they need for an optimal environment. They also have a large role in writing and implementing policies and procedures to maintain a safe, comfortable and efficient environment for patient care. When necessary, they will act as a liaison between the nursing staff and other healthcare professionals. Finally, they are responsible for much of the paperwork necessary to keep the facility running smoothly. Here’s how to become a nursing administrator.
Job Opportunities
Nursing administrators work in a variety of settings including acute care hospitals, long-term care facilities, surgery centers, rehabilitation units, managed care physician clinics, Alzheimer’s care units, group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and many more places. New care facilities open up every day and current facilities are expanding to provide better healthcare to the population, so jobs are always available for this position.
Education and Training
If this is the career you want to pursue, you can prepare as early as high school. Make sure you do well in classes that involve science, math, English and business related electives. You will need a minimum of a 3.0 GPA in high school, advanced preparation courses and you must score well on your SAT exams. After high school graduation, you will be well prepared to apply for college. You will first complete an accredited nursing program, take your NCLEX-RN exam, and become a registered nurse.
You will be required to have a Master’s Degree in nursing administration. Courses you will need to take include healthcare legislation, human resources, nursing research, as well as leadership and management courses. There are many ways to get this education.
The usual route to a Masters Degree in nursing is obtaining your RN either by getting your Associate’s degree in two years (the minimum requirement to become an RN), or your Bachelor’s degree after four years of school and obtaining your BSN, and then moving on to the Masters in Nursing program. You can take two routes after that: You can enter a medical school program for nurse practitioners or midwifery, or you can get a nursing administrator certification. You can take the Master’s degree program in its entirety before becoming a nurse, but this is not common. For the busy nurse who needs to keep her job while training for the advanced degree, an online nursing program may be a good choice.
You might also seek the Certified Nurse Administrator designation from the American Nurse Credentialing Center (ANCC). You will also have to be licensed by the state in which you work. If you have chosen a good program, these will not be major obstacles. You will also be required to complete continuing education units every year to keep your certification and license current. If you want to be a nursing administrator, you are usually required to work in the field for a minimum number of years before you can get a position as an administrator, since they want you to know how the hospital works. The good thing is that you can begin working in the field to gain nursing experience while you continue with your education towards your Master’s degree.
Job Skills Needed
In addition to the education and training, you’ll also need certain skills to succeed in nursing administration careers. Make sure you the following:
- Excellent management skills
- Excellent speaking and communication skills
- Ability to handle multiple tasks
- Be a team player.
- Good business knowledge
- Knowledge of hospital functions from nursing practices to food services and housekeeping
- Good financial sense
- Ability to foster a team spirit and set a good example for staff.
- Strong knowledge of Medicare and Medicaid regulations
Job Outlook and Salary
The nursing field in general is expected to grow over the next few years. As of 2011, there will be over 500,000 Registered Nurses added to the healthcare field by the year 2018. Current administrators will retire, new hospitals are being built and smaller hospitals are expanding to handle the larger population. This means an increased need for more nursing administrators. The average starting salary is $50,000 to $60,000 per year depending on the facility. Top ranges in salary for this position can easily top $100,000 per year and higher, depending on the facility and experience.
Nursing is an exciting field and offers many opportunities for growth. Becoming a nursing administrator can offer you the job satisfaction of ensuring quality care for your patients, good working conditions for staff, and smooth day-to-day operations in the healthcare environment. This position is both challenging and rewarding at the same time.