Hospital management positions are highly sought after, by both nurses and other job-seekers. In 2010, CNN named hospital administration as one of the 100 top careers. High job satisfaction, good salaries and a strong job market were cited as the main attractions.
The ranks of hospital administrators contain many licensed nurses. After all, managing clinical departments and facilities is not a huge stretch from managing patient care plans or supervising a nursing shift. As nurses look to expand their career options beyond patient care, many choose to pursue management opportunities in hospitals.
Paths to Administration
You do not need a nursing background in order to become a hospital administrator, however. There are several degree programs that can provide the educational qualifications you’ll need. These can include Master in Business Administration (MBA), Public Health (MPH) or Health Administration (MHA). Many nurses who pursue hospital administration positions find they need to enhance their educational credentials with business- or administration-related certificates or degrees. Clinical workers from other backgrounds, such as lab technicians, physician assistants, medical equipment technologists also pursue management positions to enhance their careers.
Of course, some hospital administrators have worked their way up through the ranks. Beginning in clerical or administrative support jobs, they use their experience to gain promotions and move into management positions. Managers who follow this path generally need at least a college degree, if not a master’s to advance their careers.
If you’re interested in hospital administration, you’ll need to demonstrate that you can handle the demands of such positions. While there are a wide variety of administrative roles, most administrative positions will require an ability to manage and plan budgets, supervise staff, set policies and procedures. Good people skills are vital, too, since health care management involves working with clinical providers, hospital staff, board members and donors, and the general public.
The Nursing Advantage
Nurses may have an advantage in seeking hospital administrative positions, since nursing leadership positions require budget, supervisory and people skills. In addition, many healthcare settings actively encourage nurses to pursue additional education and expand their career options. For many nurses, this provides the support structure they need to earn advanced degrees and make a career move into administration.
If you truly prefer administration to nursing, it rarely makes sense to pursue a nursing degree first. The rigors of nursing education are difficult, and someone who is less enthusiastic about a nursing career may struggle. In addition, if your heart is set on a management career, you will be better served by pursuing a health administration-related degree, and gaining experience in lower level management positions, rather than starting your career as a nurse.
Nursing First?
On the other hand, if you love nursing, and want to consider administration as a later-career move, you will be well served by gaining a nursing degree first. You will gain valuable experience in how health care works, in addition to playing an important role as a health care provider. The time you spend as a nurse will give you an opportunity to refine and define your career goals. When and if you move into administration, you will find many former nurses as your colleagues, giving you a support base of co-workers with a very similar background.
While nursing provides an entry point into hospital administration, it is not the only route. Whether you pursue a nursing degree before entering into administration really comes down to your personal interests. If nursing as a career appeals to you, you can pursue job satisfaction now, and know you have the option of moving into management or administration later.
If you’re not sure whether to begin with a nursing career, try reaching out to hospital administrators with nursing backgrounds. They can provide you with a personal perspective on career development that could help you make this very important decision