Career in Nursing Administration

ntent">RNs in advanced nursing theory and practice
Wikipedia defines a nurse administrator as aconcepts as well as non-clinical and administrative
professional whose core responsibilities includeaspects of healthcare. RNs learn important subject
policy making, staff administration, and financialareas like Health Services Economics, Health
decision-making in a healthcare environment.Services Financial Management, Healthcare
The core job of a nurse administrator includesInformation Systems, Health Services Marketing,
planning work schedules, assigning duties to theNursing Leadership, etc as part of their curriculum.
staff nurses and supervising their work,Many top-level institutes and universities also offer
establishing budgets, and maintaining medicalRNs opportunity to earn their nursing
records and supplies inventory.administration degree online, which means they
She is also responsible for recommending andcan study at their own pace and work out their
implementing policy changes, ensuring effectiveown schedule around their jobs and family
patient care, and driving constant improvements incommitments.
the healthcare delivery system.Employment opportunities
Is Nursing Administration for You?Nurse administrators can find employment in a
Anyone aspiring for a career is nursing needs tovariety of healthcare units such as hospitals, home
have the basic qualities of a caregiver such as ahealthcare services, nursing care facilities, offices
passion to help others, patience, compassion,of physicians, or even government and non-profit
perseverance, dedication, and the ability to keepagencies.
calm under extreme conditions such as medicalAccording to the U.S. Department of Labor, nurse
emergencies.managers can advance from the level of assistant
In addition to these characteristics, a nurseunit managers to head nurses and then to more
administrator should demonstrate leadershipsenior administrative positions like assistant
qualities, interpersonal and communication skills,director, director, vice-president, or chief of
and attention to detail as her job revolves aroundnursing.
managing the junior staff, extensive recordThe paycheck of a nurse administrator depends
keeping, stock taking, and acting as the agents ofto a large extent on factors such as experience,
change.education, geographic location, and the type of
Nurse Managers or administrators should also behealthcare facility they work in, but a first level
emotionally stable, so they can support and advisenurse manager can expect to earn anywhere
patients and their families.between $80,000-$110,000 per annum.
Education pathFuture Outlook
Most licensed nurses begin their careers with aThe Department of Labor has projected a faster
Registered Nursing degree, while some enter thethan average growth in the employment of both
profession armed with a diploma. They start asRegistered Nurses as well as health services
staff nurses and are able to move up the laddermanagers, which means that nurse administrators
to hold managerial positions after years ofare likely to enjoy excellent job prospects.
experience.While the employment of RNs is expected to
Some institutes also offer a bachelor of science ingrow by 22 percent by 2018, employment of
nursing administration that prepares RNs forhealth service managers is projected to increase
supervisory roles.by 16 percent over the same period.
However, with the Department of Labor reportingAs the healthcare industry continues to expand,
that management-level nursing positionsthe need for medical administrators with
increasingly require a graduate or an advancedexperience in healthcare and strong business
degree in nursing administration, the prospects aremanagement skills is only going in one direction
best for RNs who complete their Master ofand that is northwards.
Nursing Administration program.If you are a practicing RN looking to move ahead
A master of nursing administration degree trainsin your career, the time to think has passed.