How can my Masters in Health Admin help me?

classicdame, MSN, EdD · Mar 8, 2010

would not count on the Masters degree to help salary unless you are hired into a management position. If you get some experience as a nurse then the combined experience + degree will make you eligible for promotion. At the very least, while you are getting that experience you will be learning nursing culture and will be able to determine your path. Good luck. I think you have great potential!

RunningRNBSN · Mar 8, 2010

If you ever want to get into Nursing Management, your masters degree will most likely help you. Your masters degree will most likely not help you with a pay increase as a floor nurse.

LA_StudentNurse · Mar 8, 2010

Have your considered a nursing program desiged for the non-nursing degreeed person who would enter into a BSN to Masters program. I believe it is called MENP (?). You would receive the same RN training for the first year or so and be eligible to take your NCLEX. You would continue on to receive your masters in nursing. Many with other bachelor or master degrees are going this route.

Bormio · Mar 8, 2010

Thank you for the replies. I have heard of the nursing program you describe for the non-degreed professional. I decided to go the ADN route because it will be convenient, quick and relatively painless. I have a child who is a sophomore in high school and my husband travels, so I need some flexibility. Also, I only have to take the nursing credits, about 8 per semester, which will make school a little less intense, time wise. I talked to the folks at AZ State U and they said I could go right to the doctorate program after I get my BSN. I only have a few nursing classes to take because I have all the other classes for my BSN.

I wanted to get the R.N. over with quickly, so I could start getting some experience.

I was just curious if having a Masters degree would make me more attractive as a new hire, i.e., I have "potential" to go into management and experience in that area.

I just wish I knew some possible career paths so I can keep my options open.

What would you all pursue if you had my background?

LA_StudentNurse · Mar 8, 2010

Thank you for the replies. I have heard of the nursing program you describe for the non-degreed professional. I decided to go the ADN route because it will be convenient, quick and relatively painless. I have a child who is a sophomore in high school and my husband travels, so I need some flexibility. Also, I only have to take the nursing credits, about 8 per semester, which will make school a little less intense, time wise. I talked to the folks at AZ State U and they said I could go right to the doctorate program after I get my BSN. I only have a few nursing classes to take because I have all the other classes for my BSN.
I wanted to get the R.N. over with quickly, so I could start getting some experience.
I was just curious if having a Masters degree would make me more attractive as a new hire, i.e., I have "potential" to go into management and experience in that area.
I just wish I knew some possible career paths so I can keep my options open.
What would you all pursue if you had my background?

If you are considering a masters versus an ADN, there are various options--each has its own focus. With a masters, you are an advanced practice nurse far and above an ADN or a BSN. If you seek to only work as a nurse to bring in more income, then the ADN would be the focus--although an advanced degree prepared nurse would earn more income. If you seek to go onward to a masters and/or a doctorate, then you need to know the destination. What do you want to do with your degrees? :twocents:

Best,

G

elkpark · Mar 9, 2010

As classicdame noted, do not expect your other degree to help you as a new grad, in terms of pay or getting more than an entry-level new grad position. As you get some significant nursing experience, it would presumably help you move into management positions, although nursing tends to value graduate degrees in nursing more than the generic "healthcare adminsitration" type degrees (those are generally taken by non-nursing people -- nurses tend to get Master's degrees in nursing (MSN) with a management/administration focus).

LA_StudentNurse · Mar 9, 2010

as classicdame noted, do not expect your other degree to help you as a new grad, in terms of pay or getting more than an entry-level new grad position. as you get some significant nursing experience, it would presumably help you move into management positions, although nursing tends to value graduate degrees in nursing more than the generic "healthcare adminsitration" type degrees (those are generally taken by non-nursing people -- nurses tend to get master's degrees in nursing (msn) with a management/administration focus).[/quote]
i agree with elkpark that anyone with a newly minted degree, in any field, will not be paid at the same level as a seasoned veteran. however, i disagree that nurses who receive a masters 'tend to get master's degrees in nursing (msn) with a management/administration focus. the focus of a masters in nursing has various tracks. from memory, there are a minimum of 5 nursing masters tracks--for example: clinical, administrative, education, etc. clearly, the training is far and above that of a bsn. the masters in nurse clinical specialist is an interesting track. nevertheless, the practice and focus of a master's prepared nurse is beyond that of an adn or bsn nurse.
is there any master's degreed or track nurses who could add to our knowledge?
best to all,
g

elkpark · Mar 9, 2010

as classicdame noted, do not expect your other degree to help you as a new grad, in terms of pay or getting more than an entry-level new grad position. as you get some significant nursing experience, it would presumably help you move into management positions, although nursing tends to value graduate degrees in nursing more than the generic "healthcare adminsitration" type degrees (those are generally taken by non-nursing people -- nurses tend to get master's degrees in nursing (msn) with a management/administration focus).[/quote]
i agree with elkpark that anyone with a newly minted degree, in any field, will not be paid at the same level as a seasoned veteran. however, i disagree that nurses who receive a masters 'tend to get master's degrees in nursing (msn) with a management/administration focus. the focus of a masters in nursing has various tracks. from memory, there are a minimum of 5 nursing masters tracks--for example: clinical, administrative, education, etc. clearly, the training is far and above that of a bsn. the masters in nurse clinical specialist is an interesting track. nevertheless, the practice and focus of a master's prepared nurse is beyond that of an adn or bsn nurse.
is there any master's degreed or track nurses who could add to our knowledge?
best to all,
g
i'm sorry i wasn't clear enough -- i meant that nurses who want to go into administration/management get msns in administration rather than other types of adminstration degrees (non-nursing degrees). i certainly didn't mean to suggest that the only msn concentration available is administration, or that most nurses, in general, get administration msns..
(and btw, i'm a child psych cns -- i've been an advanced practice nurse and in and out of nursing education for many years.)

LA_StudentNurse · Mar 9, 2010

I'm sorry I wasn't clear enough -- I meant that nurses who want to go into administration/management get MSNs in administration rather than other types of adminstration degrees (non-nursing degrees). I certainly didn't mean to suggest that the only MSN concentration available is administration.
(And BTW, I'm a child psych CNS -- I've been an advanced practice nurse and in and out of nursing education for many years.)
Child psych CNS -- nice to meet you. MSW here and I decided to upgrade my nusing degree.......
Best :redpinkhe,
G

Bormio · Mar 10, 2010

Again, thanks for the replies. This discussion is actually helpful to me, particularly to know the perspective of practicing nurses. I guess it does come down to the difference between a BSN with MHA or BSN with MSN. I feel like with an MHA, I probably know more about the healthcare system in general for example, finance, reimbursement and organizational positioning. On the other hand, I imagine an MSN prepared nurse would have significantly more knowledge of nursing implications of different types of care and how to manage nurses, which is a vastly different from general health administration.

I guess I want someone to tell me that yes, as a new grad with an MHA, you will have an advantage in terms of getting hired, or an advantage in getting promoted. I don't expect to earn more as a new grad, well maybe a little, but not much. It is just so competitive out there for new grads, I would hope that my advanced degree would help me get hired.

I don't really know what I want to do, but I would consider working overseas, maybe in Singapore or Australia. I would think my MHA degree gives me some credibility.

I think it is funny, though, that most nurses don't think much of an MHA. I actually went through a real program with five full-time semesters (65 credits) and a thesis at a major university, as compared to a having a piece of paper from some online university. I did an internship and a fellowship, as well. I do think that most administrators don't have a clue what it is like to be a nurse, or a dietician or x-ray technologist or admitting representative or any of the down in "the trenches" jobs. This disconnect would certainly explain nurses' attitudes towards administrators.

elkpark · Mar 10, 2010

Again, thanks for the replies. This discussion is actually helpful to me, particularly to know the perspective of practicing nurses. I guess it does come down to the difference between a BSN with MHA or BSN with MSN. I feel like with an MHA, I probably know more about the healthcare system in general for example, finance, reimbursement and organizational positioning. On the other hand, I imagine an MSN prepared nurse would have significantly more knowledge of nursing implications of different types of care and how to manage nurses, which is a vastly different from general health administration.
I guess I want someone to tell me that yes, as a new grad with an MHA, you will have an advantage in terms of getting hired, or an advantage in getting promoted. I don't expect to earn more as a new grad, well maybe a little, but not much. It is just so competitive out there for new grads, I would hope that my advanced degree would help me get hired.
I don't really know what I want to do, but I would consider working overseas, maybe in Singapore or Australia. I would think my MHA degree gives me some credibility.
I think it is funny, though, that most nurses don't think much of an MHA. I actually went through a real program with five full-time semesters (65 credits) and a thesis at a major university, as compared to a having a piece of paper from some online university. I did an internship and a fellowship, as well. I do think that most administrators don't have a clue what it is like to be a nurse, or a dietician or x-ray technologist or admitting representative or any of the down in "the trenches" jobs. This disconnect would certainly explain nurses' attitudes towards administrators.

I understand it is v. frustrating for newcomers to nursing to learn that their previous education and experience will not count for much in nursing (we certainly get plenty of venting about that on this site), but the reality is that, in nursing, a new grad is a new grad is a new grad. You will still know v. little about nursing when you graduate and start practicing, whatever other degrees and experience you may have, and will be in essentially the same boat as all the other new grads. Your admin degree will probably benefit you down the road, after you gain some real experience in nursing, but without signficant nursing experience, it's just an interesting personal detail.

As for your dismissive "piece of paper" comment about MSNs, plenty of us went through "real" programs, attending classes full time for two years or more, and writing real theses, at "major" universities (mine was an Ivy). I'm sorry to have to tell you that your degree is not as special or remarkable in the nursing world as you seem to expect, and I would also encourage you not to be so quick to assume that you know more about the wider implications and operations of healthcare systems than MSN-prepared nurse executives do. (Ironically, this conversation reminds me that the newly-appointed administrator at my place of employment, a non-nurse who has no background in our specialty area, and has no clue what our facility does, is in the process of getting an MHA online from a notorious "diploma mill" school and we are all disgusted that she has been put in charge of us. I've known plenty of people with online "piece of paper" MHAs -- so I guess these things cut both ways, don't they?)

Best wishes for your journey.