RN with healthcare management

midinphx, BSN · Dec 30, 2009

I don't think the degree is the key to management positions. There are plenty of administrators that have BSN or even less. I have a MBA/healthcare management. I am a staff nurse still, by choice. But I can say that the degrees can come off like a threat to a boss who has less paper and letters after their name than you.

ArwenEvenstar · Dec 31, 2009

I don't think the degree is the key to management positions. There are plenty of administrators that have BSN or even less. I have a MBA/healthcare management. I am a staff nurse still, by choice. But I can say that the degrees can come off like a threat to a boss who has less paper and letters after their name than you.

Yes, I have to agree, that a degree can come off as a threat! I once was trying to transfer to a more management area of the hospital, and mentioned I had my BSN as I thought this would be seen as a positive for the position. To my surprise, I got a VERY defensive response that a BSN was not important!! I found out this lady only had her ADN.

LeLeeFNP · Dec 31, 2009

just out of curiosity why are you not going for MSN or MBA since you already have a bachelor's degree? There are many Healthcare Administration programs at the Master's degree level that are online as well as MSN programs in Nursing Administration. I will be starting an online MSN in Nursing Leadership and Management program very soon at WGU (western governor's university). I think obtaining a master's degree is your best bet to open you up to more options that your bsn currently won't.

I'm not sure where you live or what employers you applied to but every administrator that I have encountered and all of the administrative nursing positions that I have seen posted have required a minimum of a BSN and most require a master's degree. Some specify that it must be an MSN while others will accept a MBA. I have never heard of an ADN in an administrative role unless the person was very old and grandfathered in. Even DONs of Nursing Homes have at least a BSN from what I've seen. I honestly don't think you should waiste your time getting a lower degree but that is just my opinion based on my own experience. Definately check out your options before making a decision.

momandstudent · Dec 31, 2009

Lovely...Just read the responses and now I am scared to death. I will be obtaining my BSN in May with a minor in healthcare administration. So, what will mychances be for being hired as a floor nurse? I took the classes because I transferred in with quite a few credits and needed the full-time status for financial aid. After reading this and knowing the current "glut" of nurses and "lack" of GN positions, I REALLY feel scared. Great...

midinphx, BSN · Dec 31, 2009

To get a position as a floor nurse, you just need your RN license. All these extras are for your own improvement and learning. I just have learned to keep my "extras" to myself unless it is necessary.

And I agree with Angel's post of going for the MBA not the associates in management. You already have a bachelors... move up to a masters, not down to an associates. University of Phoenix has MBA/healthcare management with on-line courses even.

SummerGarden, BSN, MSN, RN · Dec 31, 2009

i agree with midinphx. i have an mba and i am a rn(adn). at my current place of employment (second hospital as a rn) no one knows but the administrators that i have an mba. as a floor nurse, co-workers feel like someday you will be their boss. thus, if they are jealous now, they will take this time to get their shots in while they can. i experienced this at my former hospital because my mba was placed on my badge! i have no degrees on my current badge! plus, very few people know i am in school to complete my bsn.

speaking of degrees, i don't know of managers that get hired with an associates in management. having a bsn will help to make you a charge nurse. i doubt you will be hired for a adon or don position with a bsn and an associates in management. msns and mbas are desirable for such positions.

btw, during the interview process for rn positions, i had to justify why i was not trying to take an admin job because i have admin experience outside of nursing. keep in mind, i was a new grad and in no way thinking i was qualified to lead nurses because i had no floor experience. i am not sure if administrators who interviewed me were trying to see if i thought i deserved to skip bedside or if they were thinking of me for future positions. in any case, i responded correctly, i am not ready to lead nurses until i get more bedside experience.

GeminiRN2007 · Jan 1, 2010

Hi all,

thanks for your responses! I already have my bachelors degree in nursing, I obtained that in 2007. I'm wanting to get out of the bedside nursing and more into an administrative role. I chose an associates degree in healthcare management, because I'm currently paying back over $30,000 in student loans, and going back for my MBA would be even more expensive!!! obtaining my associates degree is less expensive, and its only a 2 year program.

I ultimately want to become DON of a nursing facility. I dont think NOT having my masters in business would be of any hinderence. I currently live in NC, and have worked at 3 nursing homes in this area as a nursing assistance, before becoming a RN; and the highest degree those DON and ADON had was a BSN, which I already have. Plus the highest degree many RN's have in the hospital that I currently work is their ADN, and they get paid the same thing I do, have the same job title, and their badge says RN just as mine, our degrees are not displayed on our badge...I guess my point is if you can become a RN with a 2-year ADN, then I should be able to find a decent administrative position with an associates degree in healthcare administration.

goingCOASTAL · Dec 21, 2010

Congratulations on your upward mobility track! I have no idea about a nursing facility career track (nursing home, LTC facility), but I know if you're wanting to expand your horizons in hospital healthcare administration, there's a few different choices you might want to consider ... particularly considering that during this recession, your potential competition is using their time to upgrade their credentials.

What I've seen in my 15 years of hospital nursing is a little bit of everything people have mentioned (managers and directors with Associates degree in nursing, management getting jealous over ambitious staff, etc.), but I have noticed some definite trends in upward mobility, and I've known TONS of management, and work for the largest hospital chain in the States:

1) Yes, "just an ADN" is sufficient to get a job in most hospitals - as a staff nurse, and even this is changing. Nursing is going into a glut, and it's looking worse. In many cities, even BSN grads are having a hard time finding work in hospitals. Yes, there are managers and directors in hospitals with less than BSN, but people being hired into those positions now have higher degrees ... and the "higher the better."

2) The most successful degree plan is one that adds to your current achievement. If you already have a BSN, your best option will be to get your Master's degree in either Nursing (MSN), Business (MBA), or Healthcare Administration (MHA). Certainly, having an additional degree is helpful, but upline managers are mostly interested in your *highest* degree - which will always be your BSN if you go back for this associates. As we both know from experience, education isn't always the difference, but in higher level management (service-line director, nurse executive), they most likely won't even interview you without the higher level degree. Ex: You will never be a chief nursing officer in a large hospital just with a BSN (again, it's your highest degree that counts).

If you want the most options, get the higher degree. The additional associate's might make a difference in a competitive situation in your current locale (if the other applicant just has a BSN only), but healthcare is changing, and it's changing everywhere as young and mobile unemployed nurses are going ANYWHERE in the US to find work.

If you settle for less ... you'll be left in the dust.

About myself: I'm one of those "ADN's" who was promoted into a department managment position after many years of charging. Our hospital has started looking at magnet status, and our whole chain has been on a huge quality improvement push, and I've recently been informed having my BSN will be required to keep my job. In school currently, and almost finished with that. My fellow managers and directors who already have a bachelor's are in master's programs (and I work in a medium sized suburb of a large metro area), so upward mobility for me will now require a Master's degree in something - or I won't get the job.

Good luck ... and again, think "up."

Annewr · Aug 29, 2012

I was going to post a new thread but you all answered my question fairly well, I think. Have an ADN and was wondering if I should go BSN or right to MSN focus probably on administration. I am looking at LTC, not hospital based. I have had enough of that. If you have any clarifications, or other insights, please let me know. I've doing this for 17 years and finding it harder and harder to get new jobs, and being held back at my current (at least that is my perception).

TX911 · Aug 29, 2012

But I can say that the degrees can come off like a threat to a boss who has less paper and letters after their name than you.

Yep. This is unfortunately a fact.

BLNT · Jun 25, 2013

Healthcare MBA going back to get an AAS in General Nursing.

Can someone please tell me if this is worth the time and investment? I am have an MBA with Healthcare Administration. Am I going backwards to get my AAS in Nursing? I like working with the elderly and hospice patients. Please help. Thanks in advance for all advice...BLNT