Those studying nursing in college often want to find out what it takes to become a nursing administrator. Nursing administrators are responsible for ensuring that all nurses working on a specific floor, in a specific department or for a certain facility do their jobs accurately and that patients are happy with the level of care that they receive. They may consult with patients, file paperwork, create a budget for a department, analyze nurses working for a facility and open the flow of communication between doctors, other medical professionals and patients. Working as a nursing administrator requires that students attend college and meet some other specific requirements.
Attend College
Nursing administrators must have a bachelor’s degree in management with a concentration in healthcare administration, but some of those working in the field today earned a Bachelor’s in Nursing or another medical field. After finishing a bachelor’s degree, students enroll in graduate schools to earn a Master of Healthcare Administration or a Master of Business Administration with an emphasis on healthcare management. Though not all positions require an advanced level of study, most nursing administrators complete a graduate degree to gain work experience and the skills needed for the job.
Gain the Necessary Skills
Strong organizational skills are just one of the skills required of nursing administrators. They must also have a high level of communication skills to talk effectively with both patients and other members of the facility’s staff. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, healthcare managers must also possess problem-solving skills, technical skills and leadership skills. Other skills needed for a job as a nursing administrator may also include time management skills and the ability to use different types of software and computer programs unique to the medical field.
Work as a Nurse
To become a nursing administrator, workers must also spend some time working as a nurse. This gives them a better understanding of how different medical facilities operate and what the nurses and others on staff do every day. Though the licensing requirements vary in each state, nurses usually need to take a licensing examination administered by a national organization. This test is only available to those who successfully pass a criminal background check and have a degree in nursing from an accredited college or university. Some states may have additional requirements that nurses need to meet before working in the field.
Meet Any Other Requirements
Working as a nursing administrator may also require that those workers pass certification examinations administered by certain organizations and agencies. The American College of Health Care Administrators offers several certification programs that help workers show they are skilled enough to work in retirement homes and other specialized facilities. Certification programs have various requirements in place, and most of those programs ask that applicants have a certain number of hours working in the field and a college degree before applying. The amount of experience can vary from a few hundred hours to more than 1,000 hours of work.
Related Resource: Heatlh Informatics
Nursing administrators must have strong organizational and leadership skills, but they also need some nursing and management experience. Those working in the field usually have both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree and a nursing license. To become a nursing administrator, you need to meet each requirement for the job and have the right level of skills too.
