Skip to: Navigation | Content | Sidebar | Footer

Best Online Degrees in: Nursing Home Administration

health degree

Explore a Bachelor's Degree in Nursing Home Administration

If you want to turn your compassion for the elderly into a career, you may want to consider earning an online bachelor's degree in nursing home administration. This career will allow you to manage and direct a facility that provides the elderly with the care and attention they need. A bachelor's degree in nursing home administration can usually be earned in around four years. However, the amount of time it takes you to earn your degree can vary. Factors such as the requirements of the program you enroll in, the number of credits you have earned in the past that can transfer toward your degree, your ability to pass each course, and whether you attend school part-time or full-time will affect how long it will take you to earn your degree.

Class Curriculum

As a nursing home administration major, you will learn about healthcare administration with an emphasis on gerontology. Each institution will have different curriculum requirements, but the following are three courses that are commonly found in a nursing home administration bachelor's degree program:

  • Laws and Ethics in Healthcare Administration. This course will familiarize you with the laws and regulations placed on healthcare facilities and administrators. You will also learn about your ethical responsibilities as a healthcare administrator.
  • Long-Term Care Administration. This course will cover the organizational structure of long-term care facilities and how to properly manage them. You will cover topics such as common issues facing long-term care facilities, financial management, and relationships with healthcare and insurance providers.
  • Managing Disorders in the Elderly. This course will familiarize you will common physical and psychological disorders that affect elderly individuals. You will learn about diagnosing, treating, and preventing a variety of disorders, as well as how these disorders affect an individual's relationships, comprehension, medical needs, and daily life.

Nursing home administration majors will spend a significant amount of time learning about topics such as pharmacology, legal aspects of healthcare administration, alternative treatments for disorders, and conflict resolution. Aside from exams and written assignments which measure your understanding of the topic being covered, you may also be required to demonstrate your ability to apply your knowledge by working through scenarios and simulations. Some programs require students to visit nursing homes and gain real-life training from nursing home administrators and staff.

Building a Career

Earning an online bachelor's degree in nursing home administration should equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to oversee the daily operations of a nursing home, manage the staff and finances, maintain compliance with state and federal laws, and improve the efficiency and quality of your facility. Upon completion of the program, should know the medical and social needs of the elderly and how to facilitate those needs, as well as how to plan and direct services and programs designed specifically for elderly individuals. In every state, nursing home administrators must be licensed, and licensure requirements vary by state. Most states require a bachelor's degree, passing an exam, and completing a state-approved training program. Though a degree and licensure may qualify you for a position, this does not guarantee employment.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that employment for medical and health service managers, such as nursing home administrators, is expected to grow by 22% through 2020. The BLS also shows that these professionals earn an average income of $84,270 a year. However, this is the national average, so your income may be different depending on several factors, including the city and state you work in, the facility you work for, and your level of experience.