Overview of Master’s Program in Nursing Administration

Nursing, as a profession, is one of the largest in the healthcare industry. It focuses on providing medical care to patients with illnesses, while keeping their psychological and physiological needs in mind. Nursing administration, on the other hand, is a profession focused on responsibilities that include administration of staff (hiring nursing staff, assigning duties to the nurses and overseeing the care they provide etc), financial decision and policy making and its proper implementation in hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation centers or any other healthcare facility.

A nursing administrator’s job revolves around creating and maintaining a safe and comfortable environment for a patient. In this article we will take a look at the education requirements and job outlooks for a nursing administrator.

Education requirements

Most students begin their nursing careers with either an Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor’s Degree in Nursing. After successful completion of either of the aforementioned programs, the student is expected to take a licensing exam in order to become a registered nurse (RN), called the National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses (NCLEX-RN).

In order to become a nursing administrator, you may be required to have a Master’s Degree in Nursing Administration. While most people with associate’s or bachelor’s degrees in nursing might want to upgrade their careers to managerial and administrative positions, not all have the luxury of time or means to give up their current jobs and other responsibilities and pursue a master’s degree. It is for such people that an online degree program from an accredited college makes the most sense.

Independence University is an example of an accredited college that provides online degree programs in healthcare and business. Reviews of Independence University speaks of the accreditation, the levels of degree programs offered, financial aid assistance and much more. One such program is the Master of Science in Nursing Administration, which can be completed in as little as 16 months. An Independence University review should help you put things into perspective while deciding on the college, as is true with any other college review.

Areas of study

A student enrolled in a master’s program in nursing administration will be trained in financial management, legal considerations in healthcare delivery, advanced nursing theory and administrative aspects of nursing.

Employment & Job Outlook

Nursing administrators usually find employment in healthcare set-ups such as: hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, government or non-profit agencies, rehabilitation centers etc. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job market for registered nurses is supposed to increase by 22 percent between 2008-2018. Nursing administrators can earn yearly salaries ranging anywhere between $39, 933- $119, 812.

If you are passionate about helping people, can work well under pressure, are able to multitask andpossess excellent management skills, then a master’s in nursing administration would make a fine choice for a career for you.