Nursing Home Administrator - Roles and Responsibilities

Nowadays, nursing homes not only provide care for the aged people but also with younger patients as well. This is true for patients who are physically and mentally impaired. At times, even healthy adults enter these care facilities because of the physical, occupational, and rehabilitation services that these facilities provide. That is why the need for nursing home administrators is really in demand. There are two main tasks in this kind of career. First is to manage clinical and administrative relationships and second is to ensure that the other related services are on the right track.

Typically, the responsibilities of a Nursing Home Administrator is supervising staff and employees, handling financial issues, medical care, medical supplies, facilities and added tasks as demanded. In pursuing this kind of career, good skills in managing people, nursing, financial and medical concerns of the nursing home are vital. Moreover, having people management skills, as well as enough understanding about finances, nursing, and medical skills would be essential for an assisted living facility. Additionally, the responsibilities run from patients and staff counselling, supervision of budgetary limits of the organization, managing training of staff and welfare programs for patients, and accomplishing the role as a supervisor in the facility. To have a successful career as an administrator, consider the following guidelines:

Education Requirements

As a Nursing Home Administrator, you need to complete no less than 4-year, bachelor's degree in the field of health services administration, public administration, or long-term care administration. An administrator is dedicated in both medical and health services management. Comparable to any other application for a job, requirements may differ by place of employment or state. If aspiring for a higher place to work in large institution, an extra 2-year or masters' degree in related field would be required. Some of the usual courses in these kinds of programs are working in fundamental skills and practices, the science of aging and long-term care, gerontology, and health behaviour. Once you completed the state-approved program, the next thing to do is to pass the licensing examination for the Nursing Home Administrators.

Important Skills Requirements

To be a successful administrator and to excel in this kind of profession you should have great skills and understanding in health care and business fields. If you want an effective career as a Nursing Home Administrator, an utmost ability in understanding complex and inconsistent information would be very helpful, as well as promising and key leader with great communication skills would be very essential.

Employment And Economic Outlook

After completing all the qualifications, the next step is to post your resume on the internet and register in several job advertisements. The help of the internet is very important in your career search to find out the different job openings both locally and internationally.

Based on the United State Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the Nursing Home Administrators fall into the bigger group of medical and health services managers, wherein a 16% growth in employment in this field. It will continue to prosper up to 2016. In 2006, the median earnings for this career are around $73,340.

Finally, in any health care profession it is important to practice patience and discipline. If you are lucky to get shortlisted, prepare for a background check performed by every management on any applicant before finally qualifying them for the job. You will definitely land the job if you have varied work experience in a hospital environment or related facility and if you have all the needed skills, certification, and education.