Career advice.. Administrator - Home Health?

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Hello!

I received an interesting call the other day. I had submitted a resume for a home health job as an RN case manager - my current experience is acute care med/tele, and prior to that long term care, so NO home health at all. The company called me and asked if I would be interested in interviewing for a possible position as the "assistant administrator" for the area I am in.

The company is fairly small. I was interviewed by phone by the RN administrator for a different region, who if I were to accept an offer for this position I would be training with and working with closely, as well as the company owner himself a couple of hours later after the administrator forwarded him my resume.

I do not have any managerial experience in healthcare. They are aware, and state that it is more important to them to hire the right person who aligns with their goals and vision as a company. They state that they are completely willing to train and expect it to be awhile before I actually take on any administrative duties independently. They are looking for someone in anticipation of their clientele in this area growing, which I'm not skeptical at all that it will given the population they serve and the area I live in.

In my opinion this random seeming selection is a branch off of "who you know" - my family happens to be from the same area as the owner's, although I don't know him directly. On the one hand, I think it is an excellent opportunity. I just enrolled in an MSN program for leadership and management, and I do have interest in nurse leadership. I'm not sure I will get another opportunity anytime soon to get experience in a management type of setting.

On the other hand, what seems too good to be true sometimes/usually is. I get super nervous when things happen quickly like this, and I'm unsure if this would be a wise career move.

My main question is basically - does anyone have any experience with a position like this? The owner states that my main functions will be coordinating the nursing staff, doing admission assessments, assisting with the writing of medical causation letters for the physicians to approve and sign, other miscellaneous paperwork, and being involved with HR issues - hiring/firing/disciplinary decisions in this region.

If anyone has any experience, advice, things that I should ask or consider, I would appreciate the input so much!! Thank you for taking the time to read this!

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Based on your description of the job duties, this sounds like a good opportunity. If it turns out to be a bad situation, you will know at which point to bail, otherwise go forward with a positive attitude and you should learn a lot. Good luck.

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Did you take this position? Did it work out?

My HH director had no previous HH experience and she was initially hired into the asst dir position and is one of my favorite mgrs I've had. I do have extensive HH experience in clinical and some experience in mgmt roles and I know what we want and need in a good manager from both sides. She has the inherent intangible qualities, the rest is teachable.

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I did end up taking the position. I'm nearly at 3 months. It has been quite difficult, because the office I'm in is a satellite office. I don't have anyone in person to teach me; I'm thrown a lot of things and situations I've never dealt with and expected to figure them out. Because the office is small, I'm also wearing a ton of hats, and it's chaotic.

I'm kind of doubting my choice now. I've been working as long as 26 hour days (!), between the office and filling in for 24 hour cases we don't have coverage for because someone called in or had an emergency or whatever. Since I'm the only RN in administration here I'm basically on call 24/7. I haven't had anything too crazy happen, just staffing emergencies.

I'm hoping it will get better as I become more competent... but we'll see :)

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I thought the administrator was going to be working with you closely? But they've thrown you out there on your own?

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Specializes in Med-Surge, Tele, PCU, CVICU, NSICU.

So, I had the same exact thing happen to me. I submitted a regular application and they hired me to be the ADON. I was estactic. Until I realized that I was salary...working 60-80 hours a week or more because I had to fill in every time there was a call in. I also had all my office duties to do. It was too much for me. I lasted a few months and quit. I didn't want management experience "that" bad to kill myself. Plus, I didn't feel like I was learning any valuable management skills because I spent too much time working in the homes.

I hope your situation works out better than mine did.

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