What kind of background does a nurse need to operate a nursing home?

Specialties Geriatric

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Hey guys,

I am wondering what kind of education or background I will need in order to operate a nursing home in the future?

As of now, I have my BSN degree and plan on working in med-surg unit hopefully at a hospital. I also have a B.S. degree in Business Administration.

I also work part-time as an agency nurse aid right now (since I just graduated and need to take NCLEX soon) in a long-term assisted living facility.

I know of two attorneys here in my town, who have partnered up, hired two RN's, and have four nurse aids staff their five-resident nursing home. I think they also invested a lot of money to making the shower room look fancy, etc.

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.

Most states require the director to be a credentialed nursing home administrator, not necessarily a nurse. Check with your state dept of health that regulates long term care facilities for compliance.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Unless all your residents are private pay, you'll have to follow Medicare and Medicaid regulations, so most likely, you'll need a license as a Nursing Home Administrator. To do that you'll need to do an Administrator In Training program. In Massachusetts your course of study has to be with a licensed administrator who has at least five years of experience running a facility AND the DPH has to approve the plan before you can even start. You do not need to be a nurse to be an administrator. I think if you have an MBA the program is 3 months long....without a Master's degree it's 6 months...I think.

It takes more than a fancy shower room to have a successful facility.

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