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Nursing Home Administrators with 360 Healthcare Staffing Have Excellent Career Opportunities

Nursing Home Administrators Have Excellent Career Opportunities

Nursing Home Administrators (sometimes called the "Executive Director" of a facility) perform an incredibly important role in our healthcare system, especially for the elderly and for the disabled, who may need daily medical assistance. As of 2014 data, there are more than 1.4 million seniors being cared for in approximately 16,000 long-term care (LTC) residential nursing homes. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) projects that the needs of aging baby boomers will dramatically increase the demand for experienced healthcare workers, offering further opportunities for Nursing Home Administrators and quite a bright future. Nursing Home Administrators have a tremendous influence on the quality of the care received by the residents of nursing homes, long term care and other facilities primarily serving seniors. These medical professionals do not typically spend much of their day at residents' bedsides, but the care that residents receive on a daily basis is greatly influenced by the leadership and decisions of the administrator of the LTC facility. Everyone living and working at the facility relies on the training and experience of the Administrator, a highly skilled and respected healthcare professional.

What Does a Nursing Home Administrator Do?

The administrator of a nursing home must be an expert in both healthcare and business management. They plan, coordinate, and supervise the delivery of healthcare in the facility. The regular duties of a Nursing Home Administrator vary somewhat depending on the size of the facility but typically include the following:

• Ensuring that the facility complies with current federal, state, and local regulations
• Managing the overall operations of the facility
• Monitoring the care given to patients and residents
• Hiring and supervising staff
• Being the primary liaison for residents and their families, the nurses and other staff, and the general public
• Resolving grievances of patients, families, and employees
• Ensuring that confidentiality is preserved; specifically, that HIPAA is adhered to
• Effectively managing the control of pharmaceuticals and diseases
• Promoting the services offered by the facility to the public
• Budgeting, which often includes seeking additional funding and grants
• Attending board meetings to discuss the budget, capital expenditures, and policies

A Nursing Home Administrator must have excellent time management and communication skills so that multiple issues can be effectively managed while presenting a calm, professional, and reassuring demeanor to residents, staff members, and the public.

Salary and Employment Opportunities

There are excellent employment opportunities projected for this much-needed and highly-paid profession. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports the need for healthcare administrators will be growing much faster than average, anticipated to be at the astonishing rate of 17% through 2024.

• 73,000 new Nursing Home Administrator jobs are expected to be created
• Administrative opportunities will be available in nursing homes, long term care (LTC) facilities, independent and assisted living communities, senior housing, residential care facilities, and hospices
• Employment opportunities are found in both private and government facilities and in both urban and rural locations, although the majority of these facilities are located in or near urban areas
• The median annual salary in the U.S. for a Nursing Home Administrator is $100,252 according to Salary.com
  • This salary would equal $48 per hour or $1,928 per week
• When adding bonuses, pensions, social security, insurance and time off to the base salary, this equates to an effective annual salary of $140,676
• Experience greatly influences salary: Administrators with 1-3 years’ management experience can expect a base annual salary of approximately $80,000 while experienced Nursing Home Administrators with more than 10 years’ experience typically earn base salaries greater than $123,000
• Interim Nursing Home Administrators working with 360 Healthcare Staffing can expect competitive compensation as a travel contractor that usually exceeds these national averages

Educational Requirements

Nursing Home Administrators will ideally possess an MHA (Master of Health Administration) or an MBA in Healthcare Management.

• The minimum requirement is a four-year baccalaureate degree earned at an accredited university or college
• Common undergraduate majors include management, healthcare administration, business administration, long-term care administration, and public health
• It's highly recommended that students attend a program that has been accredited by the CAHME (Commission on Accreditation for Healthcare Management Education)
• Larger facilities will require Nursing Home Administrators to possess a master's degree
• Extra courses in related studies such as elder abuse, gerontology, pain management, and aging will be helpful.

Licensing and Certification

Every state requires Nursing Home Administrators to be licensed.

• Licensing candidates must successfully pass exams offered by the NAB (National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Board)
• CNHA (Certified Nursing Home Administrator) certification is maintained by obtaining 150 credits for continuing education every 5 years.

The First Steps to Becoming a Nursing Home Administrator While studying for a degree, obtain as much first-hand work experience in healthcare as possible, especially at nursing homes and other healthcare facilities for seniors. Part-time jobs, internships, consulting, and other related employment will add weight to your resume after graduation. Nursing Home Administrators typically begin their careers as a clinical nurse and then get promoted to assistant administrators or nursing managers within a nursing home facility. Five years of experience is generally needed prior to being promoted.

Pros and Cons of Working as a Nursing Home Administrator

All careers offer both rewards and challenges and this career is no different. The pros of becoming a Nursing Home Administrator include:

• Excellent job opportunities with an increasing demand for qualified professionals
• Finding a position typically takes less time than in many other fields
• Six-figure salaries and excellent benefits
• Working in comfortable medical offices with limited time at the bedside of patients
• A fast-paced, busy and interesting career
• The satisfaction of making a difference in the lives of many others
• Interacting with many people on a daily basis
• Being a respected member of the community.

No job is perfect, and a career as a Nursing Home Administrator does have a few cons including:

• The possibility of being on call nights, weekends, or holidays since nursing homes and related healthcare facilities are open 24/7
• The stress caused by holding such an important position with a wide range of duties
• Investing in the required education
• Continuing educational requirements for certification.

A qualified, experienced professional Nursing Home Administrator can expect a challenging and fulfilling career. Possessing the primary responsibility for the well-being of those being cared for in the long term care facility is a tremendous challenge. Those desiring and able to meet this demand will be greatly rewarded for their skills and experience. At the end of the day, those working in a Nursing Home Administrator job will have the knowledge that their work is critically important in improving the lives of many others. 360 Healthcare Staffing is a proud provider of Interim Nursing Home Administrator Jobs and Staffing Services throughout the USA.