Nursing Home Administrator Job Description – Salary, Education and Career Guide for Becoming a Nursing Home Administrator

Nursing Home Administrator jobs offer an excellent opportunity for those interested both in management and health care. Careers in long term care management provide:
  • A chance to assist families and individuals to protect their quality of life as they grow older
 
  • A way to make a difference in the lives of older people
 
  • The ability to work in a growing field with multiple paths for professional growth and job security
 
  • The opportunity to be recognized as a leader in an organization.
 
As a nursing home administrator, you will interact with other health care professionals, administrative specialists, the general public, and the elderly. An aptitude for management is important in this career.

Job Description

Nursing home administratorsare responsible for managing long-term care facilities. These sites also are sometimes referred to as residential care facilities (RCF). Nursing home administrators handle hiring and staffing needs, and manage the overall health care administrative aspects of the RCF.
 
As laws governing privacy and security become increasingly complex, a nursing home administrator needs to stay aware of current regulations. From health care technology to financial matters, nursing home administrator careers require the ability to focus on running each department.
 
Nursing home administrator jobs may include:
  • Key Manager of all Departments: These positions are available primarily in smaller facilities and involve juggling multiple roles. Responsibilities may include attracting prospective residents and reviewing expenditures with the facility's accountant.
 
  • Specialized Management Positions: These jobs involve working in a specific type of nursing home, such as long term care or cardiac recovery.
 
  • Senior Management Positions: With seniority and experience, you may be offered a position managing a large nursing home facility, with entry-level and junior administrators reporting to you.
 
Some nursing home administrators work in extremely large nursing home organizations, which may have several different separate facilities. Others prefer to work in a small residential care facilities with as few as six to ten patients, and an opportunity to know each one personally.
 
Nursing home administrators often interact daily with accountants, doctors, health information managers, human resources specialists, nurses, psychologists and other professionals. They may also be involved with current and potential patients and their families.

Salary Guide

A nursing home administrator salary averages about $70,000 per year, but can range as high as $90,000 to $100,000 annually. Income varies, depending on:
  • credentials
  • location
  • type of facility
  • years of experience.
 

Education and Training

Most nursing home administrators are required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from an accredited college or university. An associate degree combined with substantial experience may be accepted by smaller facilities.
 
To prepare for a nursing home administrator employment, studies include a variety of subjects including:
  • accounting
  • health care
  • human resources
  • legal issues
  • management.
 
All 50 states require a nursing home administrator license. Only the Board of Examiners can grant licensure. Requirements vary from state to state. In Minnesota, for example, candidates must have a minimum of a baccalaureate degree with required courses, a practicum and specific scores on both the state and national exams.
 
A practicum consists participating and learning in a licensed nursing home while closely supervised by a fully licensed nursing home administrator.

Prior Work Experience

When applying for a nursing home administrator position, previous experience in health care, human resources, management and medical technology are looked upon favorably. Examples of relevant work experience include:
  • management position in a health-related environment
  • nursing home employment, such as accounting or customer service positions
  • sales and marketing jobs in a residential care facility
  • volunteer work in a nursing home.
 

Career Advancement

Advancement opportunities for nursing home administrators include:
  • consulting
 
  • senior positions, such as supervisor of other nursing home administrators in a large facility
 
  • specialization in areas of interest, such as Alzheimer's patients or hospice situations
 
  • variety of increased responsibilities, such as counseling different clients.
 

Related Associations & Groups

For more information about nursing home administrator careers, you may want to contact:
  • Assisted Living Federation of America
 
  • American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA)
 
  • American College of Healthcare Executives
 
  • National Association of Directors of Nursing Administration in Long Term Care (NADONA).
 
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