Students seeking careers as nursing home
administrators must typically earn a master's degree. In addition to
being an employment requirement, a master's degree might also be needed
to qualify to take the licensing examinations required in some states.
Aspiring nursing home administrators will find several colleges and
universities offering online graduate degree programs.
Online Nursing Home Administration Master's Degree Programs
An online master's degree program in nursing home administration
typically emphasizes healthcare organization management, financial
management and leadership. Applicants are usually required to hold a
bachelor's degree in a related field.
Though a Master of Science degree program in Health Administration or
Healthcare Administration
is most commonly offered, students can also pursue a Master of Science
in Health Services Management or Healthcare Management, or a Master of
Healthcare Administration. In some cases, students might choose to
pursue a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management.
Several colleges offering online graduate degree programs for nursing
home administrators provide them entirely online, while others might
require students to attend some on-campus classes. Internships or
residencies might be included in some programs. In some cases,
residencies are conducted online.
Basic technical requirements for online master's degree programs in
healthcare administration include a high-speed Internet connection and
e-mail. As some schools might conduct virtual residencies or use
webcams, high-quality sound and video cards might also be required.
Online Nursing Home Administration Courses
The curriculum for an online master's degree program in health or
healthcare administration focuses on healthcare financial management,
human resource management, and health systems management. Courses might
also be offered in healthcare policy, healthcare economics, healthcare
laws, ethics, and health information systems. Some programs might
include seminars or an administrative internship.
Health Administration Course
Introductory courses in health administration typically address
leadership concepts, organizational change and administration
principles. The roles and responsibilities of healthcare managers might
also be discussed.
Healthcare Financial Management Course
Healthcare financial management courses explore techniques and
methods used in the financial operation of various types of healthcare
facilities. Topics covered might include accounting, budgeting and risk
management.
Healthcare Economics Course
Healthcare structures and policy are the main focus of healthcare
economics courses. Topics addressed include insurance, medical
resources, costs and healthcare services.
Completion of an online master's degree program in healthcare
administration or a related area can qualify students to work as nursing
home administrators. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports
that the job growth rate for health services managers was expected to be
16% between 2008 and 2018 (
www.bls.gov). The median yearly salary for health services managers working in nursing home facilities was just over $77,500 in 2009 (
www.bls.gov).
All 50 states require that nursing home administrators obtain
licensure. Graduates of an online master's degree program in health or
healthcare administration qualify to take the licensing examination,
which is offered by the National Association of Long Term Care
Administrator Boards. In most cases, continuing education requirements
may need to be satisfied to be eligible for license renewal.
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