What to do now?

Hello all,

Before I say anything else, I want to give everyone on this board a big thank you. I just finished my Excelsior BS in one year because of the people on this board who have helped me. (I had 60 credits before enrolling at Excelsior)

Graduate school is a must. It is looking like I will enroll in Bellevue (Omaha) University's MS in Healthcare Administration program. I've always wanted to work in healthcare, but science was never my thing.

I also am currently enrolled in Indiana University's Certificate in Healthcare Accounting and Financial Management.


My question is this: Is a Masters degree from Bellevue and a Certificate from Indiana U enough to get a 'solid' job in Healthcare Administration? I have some experience in healthcare....I'm a Certified Personal Trainer and have been an Assistant Athletic Trainer for about two years.

I know I have asked a question like this before, but I am just really curious to hear from those of you in the healthcare fields. I realize a nursing home administrator must be state certified...but I think that will come after I get my degree.


Also, I'd like to hear from Bellevue University graduates or current students. I live in Nebraska and the school has a 'decent' reputation, but I think in terms of prestige, it is lower than the state schools here.

If anyone could help me out with this that would be great.

Thanks again

 

I have been a licensed nursing home administrator for 6 years now, and I just finished the coursework for my master's in health administration and policy at Northwestern University. The master's degree itself probably won't do much in terms of getting you an entry-level health administration job--you are simultaneously over-qualified and under-experienced, especially for hospital and health system level jobs. Health administration jobs tend to specialize relatively quickly, but if you are really interested in long term care administration, you have a few possibilities:

FINANCE: Any certification or training in payroll, Accounts Receivable and Payable, software experience, etc, makes you very attractive, and you could seek jobs as a facility Business Manager, HR Coordinator, Assistant Administrator, etc.

MARKETING: An outgoing personality and again certification if possible makes you competitive for Director of Admissions, Director of Marketing, etc.

SOCIAL SERVICES: A B.A. in sociology, psychology, or most liberal arts in fact, means you could start as a facility social worker and possibly move up to the above or to an assistant administrator position.

LICENSURE: As a nursing home and/or assisted living administrator instantly makes you more attractive for any of the above, with the idea that you could be promoted fairly soon.

I would contact the Nebraska affiliate of AAHSA (American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging) to take advantage of their very specialized continuing education programs--for less than $200 you could attend all kinds of seminars providing very specific training in different facility positions, and send copies of your certificates earned out with your resumes.

There tends to be a lot of turnover in LTC, and much depends on your local market of nursing homes, assisted living centers, senior apartments, etc. But the industry needs good people, and I wish you well in your search.

 

Matt,
Congratulations on this great achievement!!
60 credits in a year that's not bad at all!!
I am less than 20 credits away from graduation (excelsior)
and looking forward to that moment!!
as for you question!!
you may want to look into the Insurance Industry, there are plenty of jobs out there, I would recommend certifications through Loma www.loma.org all their courses are ace approved and can be tranferred toward a second degree in "insurance and risk management" at excelsior .
It's like double dipping you get an industry designation and a degree in the field.
best luck to you and way to go!!
P.S. you may want share with us what kept you motivated as well as any other tips you may have to offer!!