Medical and healthcare students and workers are in a great position to remain employed and to advance into the ranks of management and nursing home administrators are no exception
Baby boomers currently make up a large portion of the population and as they age, the demand for medical and health care services is growing. In fact, the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Statistics projects it to grow 17 percent between 2014 and 2024.
That’s quite a bit more than the 11 percent average growth for all occupations. And, it translates into an addition of 56,300 jobs! In May 2014, medical and healthcare managers held 33,300 jobs nationwide not in hospitals, but in nursing care facilities.
So if you are a student who is considering a career as a nursing home administrator, you have a long, secure career to look forward to.
Entry into the realm of management in medical and health care services requires at least a Bachelor’s Degree, though Master Degree holders fare better.
Health administration and healthcare management majors are better prepared for the higher levels of management in this field since they require courses like hospital management, accounting and budgeting, law and ethics and strategic planning. In other words, the best prepared workers are well-trained in both patient care and financial management.
If you are pursuing a career specifically in nursing home administration, round out your studies with a concentration in long-term care, gerontology, patient rights or nursing home administration.
Nursing Home Administrator Job Description
Nursing home administrators are responsible for managing ‘the whole ball of wax’ including the employees, the admissions process, financial matters, the building, and of course, the patient care and nursing home activities. Large facilities may also have assistant administrators who help with daily decisions and who may manage clinical aspects of the facility such as surgery, therapy or medical records.
All states require nursing home administrators to be licensed, so check out this table of state-by-state requirements at the National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards website (http://www.nabweb.org/nursing-home-administrators-licensure-requirements)
Salary and Hours
Nursing home administrators typically work full time like their other medical management colleagues and may work nights, weekends, overnight and even on holidays. However, in 2014, median pay for Nursing and residential care managers was $78,540per year.
Medical services management, including nursing home administration is definitely a field to explore for a healthy career over the next ten years.
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