In management, nurses can advance from assistant unit manager or head nurse to more senior-level administrative roles of assistant nursing administrator or nursing supervisor. Higher management nursing positions require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursing or health services administration. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, a master’s or Ph.D. program for nursing administrators is the next step toward becoming a director of nursing in a hospital or a long-term nursing facility. Common to all nursing administrator programs are courses in leadership, communication, organizational management, and negotiation skills.
Nursing Administrator Related Careers
Your nursing administrator degree and your nursing expertise together make you a valuable member of a health care team managing ambulatory, acute, home-based, and chronic care. Employers, including hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, assisted living communities, social services providers, doctors’ offices, research laboratories, insurance companies, managed care organizations, and other healthcare providers need supervisors with a nursing administrator degree for nursing planning, policy development, supervision, management, consulting, and quality assurance, as well as for business support such as marketing. Other nurses with a nursing administrator degree work as college and university faculty or conduct research.
What’s the Job Outlook?
The U.S. population is aging and job opportunities in nursing and healthcare management are excellent, particularly in nursing homes and assisted living facilities. More than 500,000 job openings in nursing are anticipated between 2006 and 2016, a 23% increase in job growth. A nursing administrator degree allows you to take your expertise to the next level, but also to stay in a field that provides you with personal satisfaction.
How much does it pay?
Many factors go into determining nursing administration, management, and directorship salaries, including experience, job history, highest degree obtained, type of employer, and region of the country. Generally speaking, Payscale.com information indicates a salary range from $55,000+ to well over $80,000 per year.
Select Nursing Administration Degree Program:
- BS in Health Information Management
- AAS in Medical Office Management
- AAS in Medical Transcription
- Master of Health Care Administration
- BS in Health Administration
- BS in Health Administration/Health Info Systems
- BS in Business Administration- Healthcare Management Emphasis
