Nursing Home Administrator

A nursing home administrator’s job is to oversee and improve the quality of care for residents in a nursing home. This includes managing staff schedules, assisting with recruiting and training, supervising staff, managing finances and the care of the building, and developing goals and objectives for the nursing home. Nursing home administrators — one type of medical and health services manager — must maintain relationships with patients and families, oversee inventory and ensure that the nursing home’s services are in compliance with all applicable standards.

Nursing home administrators often work nights and weekends; the Bureau of Labor Statistics says that one in three medical and health services managers in 2014 reported working more than 40 hours per week.

Career Growth

Nursing home administrators are very much in demand; healthcare administrators in general are expected to experience 17 percent job growth by 2024, well above average job growth in the United States. As the baby boomer population ages, demand for nursing home administrators will increase.

Highly skilled nursing home administrators can transition into careers in consulting, more advanced administration positions or administration specializing in a particular area of interest, such as Alzheimer’s care.

Salary Potential

The median annual wage for managers in nursing and residential care facilities is $78,540, while the median salary for all healthcare administrators is $94,500 annually. Income can vary based on credentials, location, type of facility and experience. Nonprofit nursing homes often pay slightly more than for-profit facilities.

Education Required

Nursing homes are highly regulated facilities. A bachelor’s degree is typically a minimum requirement, and a nursing home administrator must have experience and knowledge in accounting, healthcare, human resources, law and management. Sales and marketing experience can also be beneficial.

All 50 states require state licensing to become a nursing home administrator, though requirements vary from state to state; some state licenses require a bachelor’s, while others require a master’s degree. Relevant degree fields include accounting, healthcare, healthcare administration and business management.

Some states also require completion of an Administrator in Training program. These programs often require 1,000 hours of work over a period of six to 12 months, though requirements vary by state.

Online MBA Healthcare Administration from Rivier University

Rivier University’s online MBA Healthcare Administration gives students the skills and knowledge needed to assume a management role in a nursing home. The program takes place in a convenient and flexible online learning environment that accommodates students’ personal and work schedules.