So Confused

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Hello, recently I decided to change my major from nursing to health care administration. I began to ask about switiching, and my boyfriend's dad said it was a bad idea. He said you move up quicker when you become a nurse first (he has a master's in health care admin & nursing). I was just wondering should I continue to get my health care administration degree or become a nurse first ? I also wondered was it an option to get my health care administration degree then become a nurse since they have the same pre-reqs?

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I always thought health care administration was a silly degree without actual health care experience.

Recently health care admin degrees have exploded because many are offered online and I don't think this helps the degree and its field at all.

Go go nursing then health care admin if you want.

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Specializes in retired LTC.

Without solid work experience, I believe that your prospects for initial employment (in a meaningful position) will be limited. PP commented re the proliferation of health care admin degrees (read overabundance of grads with the same degree all looking at the same limited number of avail positions in a tight job market). And if you're thinking a bachelor's degree is enough, think again. The graduate level MHA (master's degree) is pretty much the benchmark degree for the career.

Then if you add in all the career-switchers from law enforcement, education, sociology/social work, psychology, PT/OT/SLP, nutrition, pharmacy, nursing (yes, nurses), you will be starting near the bottom of the heap. Not too promising. Do some in-depth research and you'll see things better as we do.

Nursing will give you a fighting chance at employment, even with all its problems. You can keep your options open by selecting your courses judiciously if you wish to seek the broader 'healthcare admin' route all the while as you balance your work schedule.

BF's dad offered good advice.

And btw, you may wish to change your screen name here. Being a bit anonymous is a good thing.

Good luck for your future.

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Thank you so much

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