Could any one discuss the Administrative job aspects of nursing

[indoamerican]

I am a student whos doing dual degree in nursing and health administration, I am more intrested into administration rather than clinical aspects, I would like to know from any nurse managers or administrators what is the scope of RN's in health administration is it a more lucrative (Lucrative indicates less job stress higher salaries etc etc)

please post your comments , suggestions and respective job experiences......Thankyou very much

[suzanne4, RN]

Salary may be higher but the hours are also much longer, do not kid yourself about management only being M-F and 8 to 4 or whatever. There are going to be deadlines to meet as well as meetings to attend and remember that most manangers or higher administrators are salaried so they do not get overtime for the extra time put in for their job.

[Antikigirl, ASN, RN]

Okay I am going to be brutially honest here...I do not necessarily appreciate the Administrative nurse that hasn't gone "into the trenches" as they say (in other words...worked in the arena they are overlooking and making choices for). I feel that is not helpful or representitive of the staff you are charge for if you can't even appreciate what it is they do or strive so hard to achieve!

One needs to know the employees they are working with, and unless you have been there...well frankly, anyone with common sense will see you as "administration" vs anyone that will help in cases other than fiscal or hard nosed reality based hospital/clinical management....in other words..."the ones hard working folks fear when seen!"...

Now, before people get all upset over that...I was in administration. It was the biggest eye opener for me! I have always been a employee based believer...wanting to know what "our team" was thinking and based choices on them...okay anyone in administration knows that that is ALMOST impossible now a days...and to do your job you can't be anyones buddy or friend...or even be liked on some descisions...so I get that...but seeing it again, after being one, from "one in the trenches" I do know...you haven't been there...you can't complain, run or do anything that will benifit me or staff in any significant way that I will truely trust...

With that said...you may want to at least spend a bit of time "in the trenches"...it is a humbling experience, and the actual HEART of what it is we do! Very important!

[jjjoy, LPN]

Just curious OP... Why get a degree in nursing at all if administration is your thing? Did you have a plan coming into this?

My opinion...

Many administrators manage departments and specialists of which they do not have personal experience or expertise as a practitioner. This is true in any field. Do all of the administrators at an car manufacturing plant need to have a least year experience working the line? which part of the line? experience designing a car? ability to problem-shoot a robotics problem? Etc. And given how many different types of practitioners an administrator might 'oversee', they can't have had first hand experience doing each one (eg, RNs, Aides, Resp Techs, Rad Techs, Dietitians, etc).

While it's ideal to have an administrator with 'trenches' experience, more important is a good administrator who listens to and stands up for the staff AND who is able to work with other administrators to actually make things happen - cuz understanding staff needs and standing up for them doesn't help much if that person quickly gets sidelined and ultimately has no influence.

And all else equal, wouldn't it be better to have someone in administration with a nursing degree and minimal RN experience vs someone withOUT a nursing degree and clearly NO RN experience?

Personally, I think it IS better than just a straight administration degree and NO other health care experience. And as long as you have the license and education, you might as well work as an RN for a bit before pursuing administration. But would one HAVE to do that? And what if you REALLY didn't take to clinical nursing?

I can different sides to this and don't have definitive advice for the OP. Good luck with whatever you do with your degrees!

[CoffeeRTC, BSN, RN]

have to agree with Triage 34 (Hey...I've missed you posting!)

I think managers who have walked the walk before doing the talk are much better. Some people are born leaders too.

There is alot of opportunities in administration. If you want to go the LTC route you will find some too. I still think you need a good clinical experiences before moving up.

Also need to agree on the "not always a M-F job". It is not always more money either. Most postions are salaried and have no OT. Floor nurses could be making more than you with a little bit of OT