Nursing programs are available with a wide variety of specialties for those wishing to concentrate on a particular area of health care. Nursing programs concentrating on administration are unique in that they are a hybrid of both nursing and business administration coursework.

A nursing administrator’s educational path consists of first earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree followed by a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degree or a Master of Health Administration/Master of Business Administration (MHA/MBA) dual degree.

Although an MSN is usually sufficient for most nursing administrator roles, some will further their education with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) degree. These degree programs can help you gain the required medical background and business acumen to lead a team of registered nurses (RNs) and handle business operations.

Online nursing administrator programs can offer several advantages, including:

●  High-quality education. Since online nursing administrator programs don’t limit you to universities in your vicinity, you’ll have a much easier time finding an accredited program that fits your exact educational needs.
●  Flexible scheduling. Perhaps the most challenging part of attending nursing school is the obligation to be in a certain place at a certain time. This is especially difficult if you are already working as a nurse or have family obligations. However, with online learning, you never have to commute to class, and you can learn on a timetable that works for you.
●  Lower costs. By taking all your classes online, you eliminate expenses such as housing, on-campus food, parking permits, and other fees.
●  Qualify for certification. An online program offers the same quality of education as an in-person program does, and can effectively prepare you to obtain nursing certification.

If you’re interested in becoming a nursing administrator, you’ll first need to complete your education. There are a few educational paths to choose from when pursuing this career.

RN to MSN

RN to MSN programs are designed for registered nurses who have an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN). This path creates an opportunity to earn both their BSN and MSN in a single accelerated track that covers curricula for both degrees. Such programs can be completed in around 36 months.

BSN to MSN

This program is intended for RNs who already have a BSN degree and wish to pursue their master’s. It’s designed for those who already have a high level of nursing education combined with on-the-job nursing experience. This program can be completed in as little as two years.

MHA/MBA

The master’s in health administration/master’s in business administration program is designed for RNs who wish to learn about topics relevant to administration roles such as health care operations, medical law, and risk management while simultaneously pursuing an MBA degree. Since nursing administrators need to understand both health care and business to be successful in their roles, the MHA/MBA degree is considered by many to be the most appropriate degree for aspiring nursing administrators to earn.

Postgraduate nursing administrator certificates

The certification in executive nursing practice (CENP) is for nursing administrators who wish to certify their skills in nursing leadership. Offered through the American Organization for Nursing Leadership, the CENP is an industry-recognized certification that confirms you have all the education and skills required to be a leader in the health care industry.

Working as a nursing administrator means you’ll oversee some of the health care facility’s staff in addition to helping to shape your organization’s policies. You’ll also be in charge of accounting and administration duties. The nursing administrator curriculum focuses on both the health care and business aspects of the job, and may include courses such as the following:

Health Care Operations. Nursing administrators will need to understand the operational components of delivering high-quality health care to patients. This means they need a top-to-bottom understanding of their entire organization and how to assess its performance and implement measures for improvement.

Health Care Law, Ethics, and Risk Management. Health care organizations are required to adhere to certain laws and regulations. As a nursing administrator, you’ll need to ensure your facility is compliant in terms of licensing, certification, legal reporting, professional liability, state and federal statutes, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) rules.

Population Health Management. Nursing administrators must understand management principles, how to control disease, how to create individual and community health programs, and how to implement strategies to improve the delivery of health care and patient satisfaction.

These are just a few examples of what you can expect from the typical nursing administrator curriculum.

To become a certified and state-licensed nursing administrator, you’ll first need to earn a degree from an accredited program. After earning your degree, you’ll next need to pass the NCLEX-RN exam, which is set by the Board of Nursing (BON) in each state. Contact your Nursing Regulatory Body (NRB) and request a licensure/registration application. You will need to pay your NRB licensing/registration fees and submit your application materials to take the test.

Finally, you will need to obtain a nursing administrator certification. As mentioned, the CENP certification verifies your skills and lets employers know you demonstrate all the hallmarks of executive nursing leadership. Additionally, the American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a nurse executive certification (NE-BC), which demonstrates that you have the knowledge and skills to oversee a team of nurses and health care professionals. After passing the NE-BC examination, you’ll be granted the NE-BC credential. It is valid for five years; you can renew it by holding a current license to practice.

The requirements for nurse executive certification include:

●  Having an active registered nurse (RN) license
●  Having a baccalaureate or higher degree in nursing
●  Gaining 2,000 or more hours in an administrative, leadership, or management role holding primary responsibility for the daily operations of at least one unit within the past three years
●  Completing at least 30 hours of continuing education in administration, leadership, or management within the past three years

The nursing administrator role is a nurse leadership role, which means extensive education and experience are required to be eligible. The amount of time it takes will vary depending on which degree path you choose and if you’re already practicing as an RN.

For those starting at the beginning of the process, a traditional BSN degree typically takes four years to complete. This would be immediately followed by becoming a registered nurse; the timeline for this varies from person to person. Next, you would need to gain at least one year of on-the-job experience as a registered nurse before pursuing your MSN degree. Earning your MSN degree may take as little as two years, depending on your schedule. After that, you’ll need to get your CENP certification and gain experience in an administrative role. The amount of experience you need will vary, but two years is considered the minimum to become a nursing administrator.

A variety of skills and knowledge are necessary for nurses to be successful in administrative roles that oversee a team of medical professionals.

Nursing administrator skills

Some of the essential skills needed to be effective in the nursing administrator role include:

●  Leadership skills. Nursing administrators set the tone for their health care facilities. They should be able to motivate their employees and lead by example.
●  Interpersonal skills. As part of health care leadership, nursing administrators need to be able to effectively communicate with their employees and on behalf of their facility.
●  Analytical skills. Nursing administrators must always be looking for ways to increase efficiency and improve the level of patient care in their facility. This means regularly analyzing processes and the performance of nursing staff.
●  Detail-orientation. Since nursing administrators routinely are involved with budgeting, staff scheduling, and developing processes and procedures, they must be skilled at paying strict attention to detail.

Nursing administrator duties

Some of the primary duties nursing administrators may perform are:

●  Scheduling shifts for nurses and staff
●  Attending staff meetings
●  Collaborating with hospital leadership to set goals
●  Conducting performance reviews of nursing staff
●  Helping with the professional development of nursing staff
●  Recruiting and hiring nursing staff
●  Managing departmental budgets
●  Staying up to date on compliance and health care regulations

According to PayScale, the median annual salary of nursing administrators is around $89,100 as of 2021, with salaries ranging between $63,000 and $136,000. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 32% job growth for the health and medical services manager field, which includes nurse administrators, from 2020 to 2030.

Keep in mind that salaries can vary based on factors such as education, experience, and geographic location.