Health Care Administrators w/o BSNs or MSNs

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.

hi, i am interested in working as a rn in direct patient care for a bit then moving into management within a clinic, public health, or hospital setting. i have a health care background (public health and psych) but not as a rn. in any case i was wondering if those of you who do not have a bsn or msn degree and are or were a health care administrator could answer a few questions:

1.) in what capacity of health care do you or did you work as an administrator?

2.) how did you get promoted or move laterally into your current (or past) position?

3.) what advice would you give someone who is entry-level and interested in moving up where you work or have worked?

4.) i notice that "shadowing" or "volunteering" for an organization is common and sound advice, however, what advice would you give a pre-nursing or nursing student who is not able to do either (possibly because your facility does not allow it) to get his/her foot in the door?

i know that these are broad questions but i do not know how to be too specific without excluding people/professions. i am a pre-nurisng student and i am trying to keep an open mind to any possibilities. thanks! ;)

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I think RN's who have other appropriate credentials and proven ability can move into some management positions (I'm guessing you have an MBA. Yes?)

Having said this, you need to think about walking the talk. Presumably you'd like your nursing staff to continue their educations and would want your facility to be heavy with nurses who've gotten BSN's and better in nursing. At some point, the nurses you direct will kinda wonder why you never pursued anything beyond (perhaps) your ADN.

If you're going into administration, I'd encourage you to not stop learning and earning credentials.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
i think rn's who have other appropriate credentials and proven ability can move into some management positions (i'm guessing you have an mba. yes?)

having said this, you need to think about walking the talk. presumably you'd like your nursing staff to continue their educations and would want your facility to be heavy with nurses who've gotten bsn's and better in nursing. at some point, the nurses you direct will kinda wonder why you never pursued anything beyond (perhaps) your adn.

if you're going into administration, i'd encourage you to not stop learning and earning credentials.

i absolutely understand what you mean by "walk the talk" and appreciate your comments regarding furthering and advancing my credentials. i plan to get a doctorate in health care administration/management within 10 years of receiving my adn. and, in the event i work in a specific specialty for a while, i plan to obtain further training and certifications within that specialty.

however, i am not interested in obtaining a second bachelors or masters due to my personal finances and familial obligations. it just is not possible at this time. the bridge programs in my area are 3 hours away and the one program that is available online through uop is too expensive.

if i had an employer willing to pay 100% of my tuition and fees in the future i may change my mind. at this time i have had no such luck and have paid for 100% of my current education without assitance and will continue to pay for my outstanding student loans until i retire in 20-30 years. :uhoh3:

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Specializes in ICU, CM, Geriatrics, Management.

MBA -- Many sups and managers in nursing have an MBA along with their ADN.

No additional MSN or doctorate is generally required. Prior supervisory experience is important.

A few facilities have stricter "rules" about having a degree with an "N" prior to being moved into management. A more efficient approach for you might be to secure a BSN, where some of your previously acquired credits will transfer over and lighten your load.

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Concentrate on getting the RN after your name, with an MBA already, the BSN is not a requirement for you.

Focus on doing that and only that right now. Networking for what you want to do later is something to do later, get thru your program first.

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

As you can see from the posts above, it really depends on where you work, the values of the people you would like to work for, and the specific job you are seeking.

For a job in hospital administration, your health care administration credentials will carry the most weight and can take you to the highest levels. However, within the nursing administrtion hierarchy, a lot of places do prefer an advanced degree in nursing.

Sometimes, nurses with only the minimum entry level degree in nursing who take a "nursing" leadership position have trouble "fitting in" with the other nursing leaders because they don't share the same academic background, nursing knowledge base at an advanced level, and socialization into the nursing culture. It's as much a social/political problem as it is a knowledge base problem -- but it is a very real problem just the same.

There are online BSN completion programs that you could take one or two classes at a time as you get some bedside experience. You're employer's tuition reimbursement program would probably cover a lot of the expense if you did it that way.

llg

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
as you can see from the posts above, it really depends on where you work, the values of the people you would like to work for, and the specific job you are seeking.

for a job in hospital administration, your health care administration credentials will carry the most weight and can take you to the highest levels. however, within the nursing administrtion hierarchy, a lot of places do prefer an advanced degree in nursing.

sometimes, nurses with only the minimum entry level degree in nursing who take a "nursing" leadership position have trouble "fitting in" with the other nursing leaders because they don't share the same academic background, nursing knowledge base at an advanced level, and socialization into the nursing culture. it's as much a social/political problem as it is a knowledge base problem -- but it is a very real problem just the same.

there are online bsn completion programs that you could take one or two classes at a time as you get some bedside experience. you're employer's tuition reimbursement program would probably cover a lot of the expense if you did it that way.

llg

part of the reason i am going into nursing is because i love working in health care and though it is possible to obtain many positions within health care without being a registered nurse, i noticed that is slowly changing. thank you guys for your advice and i will keep pushing forward.

:thankya:

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Specializes in ED, ICU, MS/MT, PCU, CM, House Sup, Frontline mgr.
Concentrate on getting the RN after your name, with an MBA already, the BSN is not a requirement for you.

Focus on doing that and only that right now. Networking for what you want to do later is something to do later, get thru your program first.

Thanks, I always get ahead of myself. I hate to think back and figure out I should have done something sooner rather then later. :coollook:

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