MBA/MHA degree

llg, PhD, RN · May 17, 2008

The key word in your post is the word, "should." Nobody can answer that but you. Do you really want to be a nurse? Does nursing itself interest you? If you decide that you really DO want to be a nurse, you'll have to deal with the fact that you will need to spend some time working in an entry-level nursing position before getting a nursing leadership position. That will mean some less attractive aspects of your job, such as pay, hours, "rank" within the health care system, etc. How would you feel about spending time at the bottom of the nursing career ladder before you moved up it? Now ... if you go to nursing school while still IN the military and practice as a nurse while in the military, you could get that experience out of the way as a military officer and then enter the civilian job market as a nurse with experience.

If you go from non-nursing management ... into another non-nursing management job, you won't have to "drop back" to the lower rungs on a career ladder. You'll probably be able to able to get a management position right away -- with better hours, higher salary, more power, etc. You would be entering the civilian job market as experienced health care administrator and be eligible for higher level health care administration jobs.

Another option is to look into a MSN-entry program. That way, you would get an advanced nursing degree to begin your nursing career and help you move up the nursing ladder more quickly. You would still need to spend some time in an entry-level role, but the MSN would open up more opportunities more quickly than a BSN would.

As I said, it all comes down to:

1. Do you really want to be a nurse because nursing itself interests you? ... or ...

2. Do you really want the fastest route to a high-level health care administration positions?

I can't see the advantage of becoming a nurse unless you really want to be a nurse.

llg, PhD RN (a woman, BTW)

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 17, 2008

I'm 37 years old and have been in the military for 19 years as a medical corpsman, and plan to do 30 years. I'm currently enrolled in a MHA/MBA dual degree program. My passion is patient care and management. I had a meeting with a recruiter from a local nursing program and she said that after reviewing my transcripts that I have already completed 40/60 pre-reqs plus my bachelors degree required for the accelerated BSN program. I would like to apply to this program before I retire, and once I have been a nurse for couple of years, I would like to pursue a healthcare mangement job. Some people have said I should apply for a top healthcare mangement job and avoid nursing because they said my advanced degree is too high for this position. When I'm retired I can devote full time to an accelerated BSN program. Should I pursue my BSN?

Are these people hiring managers that are willing to take you without experience? Otherwise, don't believe the HYPE! Advanced degrees mean nothing without work experience. MBAs start at the bottom floor without work experience. So it is not beneath you to start off as a Staff RN once you are a New Grad. In fact, the degree is not related so it will not be considered against your hire.

As you can see by my user ID, I have an MBA. The route of becoming a RN first and working the floors is the route many of us on this board are taking to become clinical mangers within the hospital setting.

In general, RNs manage nurses, coordinate patient care, and run clinical departments (MDs can run clinical departments too); not others. On the other hand, if you are trying to run an accounting department, Risk Management, etc. then that is different. You do not need to be a RN, though it helps. GL! :twocents:

kane77 · May 17, 2008

Are these people hiring managers that are willing to take you without experience? Otherwise, don't believe the HYPE! Advanced degrees mean nothing without work experience. MBAs start at the bottom floor without work experience. So it is not beneath you to start off as a Staff RN once you are a New Grad. In fact, the degree is not related so it will not be considered against your hire.
As you can see by my user ID, I have an MBA. The route of becoming a RN first and working the floors is the route many of us on this board are taking to become clinical mangers within the hospital setting.
In general, RNs manage nurses, coordinate patient care, and run clinical departments (MDs can run clinical departments too); not others. On the other hand, if you are trying to run an accounting department, Risk Management, etc. then that is different. You do not need to be a RN, though it helps. GL!

When I retire I would have had over 10 years of healthcare management experience and I 'm currently a member of ACHE. Really I can apply for a healthcare management position that doesn't require a RN Degree. As I stated before I love dealing with patients and would like to do nursing for a couple of years eventhough I will be retired. Would Getting the RN degree along with my years of healthcare management experience in the military,MHA/MBA degree make me competitive for the top hospital administartor jobs?

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · May 17, 2008

Would Getting the RN degree along with my years of healthcare management experience in the military,MHA/MBA degree make me competitive for the top hospital administartor jobs?

Yes! :up: Plus, networking. Good luck! :nurse:

Charis · Mar 16, 2012

hi I currently have a mha degree and i can't break thru the ceiling to get into a mgt job been a nurse for 17 yrs!