Can a nurse advance to healthcare administration positions?

Published

Hello, everyone. I will be starting college full time this fall semester as a senior in high school. Though I have yet to actually enter nursing school, I am trying to make career plans for my future. I've been having trouble deciding on what I want to major in, but I believe I finally simplified it. I was originally looking at computer science, but I've always been interested in health care and the medical field. On top of that, I can see myself in business/management positions.

Ultimately, I decided that I will attempt to complete the BSN program at my school, with a minor in computer science (more so for personal interest, but there is nursing informatics to look into). After hopefully receiving my BSN, I plan to work as an RN for a few years. This is where I get a little confused. I want to eventually advance to an office position. My school has a transition program from BSN to DNP in Nursing Administration that can be completed part-time while still working. Would this be the appropriate route to go if I aim to work as a hospital administrator after several years or so (or any healthcare management job for that matter)? Or would you advise just going into a business program if this is my plan?

I appreciate all and any advice. Thank you.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Nurse Leader specializing in Labor & Delivery.

IME, nobody goes into nursing to become a manager. Or, if they do, they're doing it for the wrong reasons. My advice to you is to graduate from high school, go to college, and if you want to be a nurse, then go into an RN program. Then be a nurse. You don't need to plan your next 30 years at age 17, and I would not recommend anyone plan their nursing manager career before just focusing on being a nurse.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Healthcare risk management and liability.

In my experience, most hospital administrators (CEO or COO) in larger facilities have a business, finance or accounting background with the typical degrees being a MHA or MBA. I also see the occasional hospital administrator with a medical degree. Nursing administrators in larger facilities usually have a MSN, Ph.D, or MHA or MBA.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Med/Surg, Ortho, ASC.

It is commendable that you want to make a long-term plan for your life. However, part of your life-learning will be the knowledge that you cannot reliably predict in advance where your interests/goals will lie. I can't tell you how many of my peers (myself included) entered nursing school with a set-in-stone goal: "I want to work in the NICU with babies," or "I want to help cancer patients in an oncology unit." Only to discover after education and clinicals that our interests really lay elsewhere. Nursing manager/administration may not, in the end, be where your heart lies.

Go to nursing school. Work a few years. Then decide where your ultimate goals lie.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Thank you all for your feedback. I think I understand what you're all implying, and I will probably wait until I go into nursing to see what I truly want to do in the future.

I would still love to hear from others on the matter, though!

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment