DU Trains Next Gen Grad Nurse Administrators
Post-Masters Certificates Offer Working Professionals Targeted Expertise
Nursing Administrators fill healthcare niches where a high degree of knowledge associated with healthcare economics, finance, organizational change, as well as nursing, are basic job requirements. Despite the frequent crossover in responsibility, nurse administrators differ from nurse managers in that administrators are trained to perform procedural work, formulating the theoretical framework within which healthcare functions. Conversely, nurse managers are, in theory, focused on resources and getting things done within this framework.
Requirements
Duquesne University's Nursing School is rooted in traditional programs, but has kept pace with current industry demands for contemporary, online coursework. In response, the university delivers seven post-masters certificate specialties, one of which is Nurse Administrator. Nurse candidates must have valid RN licenses, and have completed Masters of Science in Nursing degrees.
Online curriculum may be both synchronous and asynchronous-students may spend most of the time working assignments according to their own schedules, but a number of assignments must be done via virtual classrooms and real-time chat sessions.
Curriculum
Specifically, the coursework most unique to the Nurse Administrator student includes: role of advanced practice nurses and administrators, leadership and management issues for advanced nurses, development of contemporary healthcare organizations, and information systems and economics for healthcare structures. There are a required 15 credits with an additional 6, optional.
Career Opportunities
Nursing Administrators are required in all areas of healthcare where an organizational structure defines a practice system. Professionals may be employed within various areas of a hospital, outpatient clinic, long-term care facility, large-scale private practice, and community and public health agency. NAa are likely to have jobs related to finance and economic development of nursing and healthcare services, operational and procedural development, nursing staff supervision, educational direction for nursing units, and coordination of healthcare services targeted to particular organizations or patient populations.
Nurse Administrators populate jobs from entry-level healthcare through positions as CEOs in big healthcare and related industries. Once, nurses met a career glass ceiling, which professionals have since shattered. Administrative nursing leaders are welcome changes in 21st century healthcare.