health administration major

[kforgood]

hi everybody,

I am so confused. I am definitely sure I want to be a nurse. I am a third year college student majoring in sociology. I enjoy the major a lot, but recently I found out that one of my aquantience is majoring in health administration while doing her nursing prereqs. I am half way through my sociology major; I will definitely finished it next spring.

My problem is should I get a health administration degree? When I am old, I know I have to teach somehow. Do nurse educators need a health administation degree in order to teach?

Thanks.

[HealthyRN]

I would recommend that you meet with a career counselor at your university. Most universities offer free career counseling and you should definately take advantage of it. Health administration degrees prepare one to become an administrator of hospitals, physician's offices, ambulatory care centers, insurance companies, or any setting that deals with the delivery of health care. Although some nurses may choose to get a health administration degree, it is usually after they have been a nurse for awhile and know that they want to move into administration. It is also usually more useful in the form of a master's degree.

Nurse educators do not need a health administration degree to teach. In fact, in most states, a master's degree in nursing (not health administration) is necessary to teach at the university level. It sounds like your friend is choosing to pursue this major with the hope that it will help her in the future. And it very well may, but it is not a requirement. Since you are almost done with your major, I would stick with it, while working on the prereqs for a nursing program. Look into 2nd degree BSN programs as this will be the quickest way for you to finish.

[MrChicagoRN, RN]

If you want to teach, plan on an MSN. This can be a major in a clinical area, education, or leadership/administration.

I'm currently working on a masters in management (similar to an MBA) that includes a concentraation in health care management. Will meet my goals but will never allow me to teach under the archaic rules governing education.