Career in Nursing Administration

Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} Wikipediadefines a nurse administrator as a professional whose core responsibilitiesinclude policy making, staff administration, and financial decision-making in ahealthcare environment.   The core jobof a nurse administrator includes planning work schedules, assigning duties tothe staff nurses and supervising their work, establishing budgets, and maintainingmedical records and supplies inventory.   She is alsoresponsible for recommending and implementing policy changes, ensuringeffective patient care, and driving constant improvements in the healthcaredelivery system.   Is Nursing Administration for You?   Anyoneaspiring for a career is nursing needs to have the basic qualities of acaregiver such as a passion to help others, patience, compassion, perseverance,dedication, and the ability to keep calm under extreme conditions such as medicalemergencies.   In additionto these characteristics, a nurse administrator should demonstrate leadership qualities,interpersonal and communication skills, and attention to detail as her jobrevolves around managing the junior staff, extensive record keeping, stocktaking, and acting as the agents of change.   Nurse Managersor administrators should also be emotionally stable, so they can support and advisepatients and their families.   Education path   Mostlicensed nurses begin their careers with a Registered Nursing degree, whilesome enter the profession armed with a diploma. They start as staff nurses and areable to move up the ladder to hold managerial positions after years ofexperience.   Someinstitutes also offer a bachelor of science in nursing administration that prepares RNs for supervisory roles.   However, withthe Department of Labor reporting that management-level nursing positionsincreasingly require a graduate or an advanced degree in nursingadministration, the prospects are best for RNs who complete their Master of Nursing Administration   program.   A master ofnursing administration degree trains RNs in advanced nursing theory andpractice concepts as well as non-clinical and administrative aspects ofhealthcare. RNs learn important subject areas like Health Services Economics,Health Services Financial Management, Healthcare Information Systems, HealthServices Marketing, Nursing Leadership, etc as part of their curriculum.   Manytop-level institutes and universities also offer RNs opportunity to earn theirnursing administration degree online, which means they can study at their ownpace and work out their own schedule around their jobs and family commitments.   Employment opportunities   Nurse administratorscan find employment in a variety of healthcare units such as hospitals, homehealthcare services, nursing care facilities, offices of physicians, or evengovernment and non-profit agencies.   According tothe U.S. Department of Labor, nurse managers can advance from the level of assistantunit managers to head nurses and then to more senior administrative positionslike assistant director, director, vice-president, or chief of nursing.   The paycheckof a nurse administrator depends to a large extent on factors such asexperience, education, geographic location, and the type of healthcare facilitythey work in, but a first level nurse manager can expect to earn anywherebetween $80,000-$110,000 per annum.   Future Outlook   TheDepartment of Labor has projected a faster than average growth in theemployment of both Registered Nurses as well as health services managers, whichmeans that nurse administrators are likely to enjoy excellent job prospects.   While theemployment of RNs is expected to grow by 22 percent by 2018, employment ofhealth service managers is projected to increase by 16 percent over the sameperiod.   As thehealthcare industry continues to expand, the need for medical administratorswith experience in healthcare and strong business management skills is onlygoing in one direction and that is northwards.   If you are apracticing RN looking to move ahead in your career, the time to think haspassed. Act now and enroll yourself in an advanced nursing administrationdegree to set your career on wings.  

Was this helpful? 0 0 Comments

Did this article Career in Nursing Administration solve your question / problem? If not, read following similar tutorials & articles or ask a new question.

• Nursing Practical Doctoral Programs Become Top Trend for Career Options for Nurses?

  Nursing positions in the administration of health care facilities require RNs to have a higher level of education, preferably a doctorate degree.

You're reading Career in Nursing Administration.