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Nursing and Health Care Administrator
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What will I be prepared to do when I finish the program?
A. The program is designed to prepare nurses for roles as administrators and senior managers in the health care industry. These roles may include positions as Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Nursing Officer or Vice President for Nursing in integrated delivery systems, Compliance Officer, Assistant Vice President for Patient Services in managed care organizations as well as numerous other administrator positions at various levels within an organization.
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Q. Is it realistic to maintain my job and still be a full-time or part-time
student in the program?
A.Yes. The masters program was designed for nurses who are employed. Classes take place every other weekend, Friday and Saturday, although most courses utilize web-enhanced or online education and meet in person only 3-4 times a semester. For example, N642 (Organizational Management) meets 4 times during the semester, with each meeting scheduled for a Friday afternoon. The program culminates with a 640-hour residency (See question below).
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Q. Is the program flexible in terms of maintaining a work schedule?
A. The program meets every other week for the first three semesters. The last semester requires a 640-hour commitment for a residency. It is suggested that students work with their employers before entering the Nursing and Health Care Administrator Program to plan work schedules around school requirements. Some students prefer to complete the residency in a different role at their current place of employment; others prefer to complete a residency completely outside of employment. We will work with you to obtain a residency and a preceptor that will provide the best experience to meet your individual learning objectives and career goals.
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Q. What is the advantage of taking the Nursing and Health Care Administator program rather than an MBA program?
A. This program is designed to prepare nurses with expertise in clinical practice to apply business and management skills in health care administration. Unlike MBA programs, students in the Nursing and Health Care Administator track participate with students from all tracks within the graduate nursing program in a core curriculum related to research and the discipline of nursing.
In addition, students in the Nursing and Health Care Administrator Track are grounded in courses in finance, organizational management, human resources, database management, leadership and communication, legal and ethical issues, strategic management and health policy. These courses provide the opportunity to integrate the discipline of nursing with business administration and health systems management. The residency experience provides a unique opportunity to apply theoretical concepts under the preceptorship of an expert in health care administration.
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Q. Can I tailor my learning experiences around my area of interest?
A. Absolutely! Research projects and the residency are designed to support individual interests and needs. Research projects can focus on qualitative or quantitative issues. Projects within each course allow the student to tackle real-life issues that have been identified by the student and faculty, with a focus on outcomes that will improve processes.
We want you and your employer to see the applicability of what you’re learning as quickly as possible. The residency provides a strong match between student needs and the specific opportunities offered by the institutions and organizations and the administrators who serve as preceptors.
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Q. Is this program appropriate for nurses
who wish to work in rural areas or small institutions or agencies?
A.Yes, the program prepares nurse administrators for any setting and any geographical area.
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Q. Do I need to write a thesis?
A.No. Students will participate in a directed study project as part of the residency experience.
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Q. Will I be eligible to sit for the Nursing Administration certification exam when I complete this program of study?
A.Graduates of the Nursing and Health Care Administrator track of the graduate program meet the educational requirements to apply for Nursing Administration and the Advanced Nursing Administration exam offered through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
The applicant must also have held an administrative position as either a Nurse Manager or a Nurse Executive for at least the equivalent of 24 months of full-time practice within the last 5 years.
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Q.What kind of experience or skills must I have before entering the program?
A.There are currently no requirements for clinical experience prior to admission to the MSN program. However, it would be helpful to have at least one year’s experience as a professional nurse prior to entering the Nursing and Health Care Administrator track. It is also helpful to have some basic computer applications skills such as Excel and word processing.
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Q.Who teaches in this program?
A.Faculty in this program have extensive service experience in administrative roles. Current faculty have held (or currently hold) positions such as Executive Director of a hospice organization, Senior Nursing Executive for a quality improvement organization, Executive Director of the Board of Nursing, Chief Nurse Executive of an academic health system, Associate Vice Chancellor for Nursing, Legal Consultant, Director of Nursing, President/CEO of Health, Research and Education Foundation, Office of Nursing Workforce Director of Research, Deputy State Health Officer, Director of Quality and Clinical Systems Improvement, and others. They bring real-world experience and expertise to the topics they teach.
Please call 1-866-842-7575 or email nsrecruiter@son.umsmed.edu with any additional questions. |
