Health care administration - non nurses

[nutella]

I am somewhat puzzled by the idea of people studying to become healthcare administrators with NO experience in the health care field whatsoever. Some have the goal of becoming a "clinical administrator" - how can you become a "clinical" admin if you are not a clinical person???

Currently I am sharing a graduate studies class with students who are mostly not nurses. It appears to me that they have the idea that their previous knowledge from education, science or such is enough to become an administrator in a hospital, clinic or other facility. If this is the new trend - it scares me!

I once worked as a clinical manager under a facility administrator who had NO healthcare or clinical experience. Her focus was clearly "numbers", no social skills, and no idea about the area she was supposed to manage. It was a bad experience all around. I left shortly after she started.

I understand that we need people in healthcare who are administrators but most successful admins in facilities and hospitals or clinics are nurses.

Perhaps I am looking at it the wrong way?

[msn2019]

Well, it has been noticed that the percentage of nurses who take the bold step to advance in their educational career by taking MSN with specialty in nurse administration are so few. this has paved the way for persons with MBA who have no knowledge in nursing education and experience to head such executive positions in the hospital administration. Even the nurses who happen to pick up such top positions do so by virtue of work experience with BSNs and not necessarily holders of MSN. This has been a challenge to me and a booster to go in for a MSN specialize in nursing administration programme.

[msn2019]

in so far as we agree that learning by experience is a good factor for an administrator, i think that a nurse requires a MSN to handle a hospital administrative position. this will blend her work experience as an RN in her new administrative position