Frequently Asked Questions
Healthcare is one of the fastest growing industries in the U.S. By illustration, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2019) predicted that the healthcare sector would see 14 percent job growth between 2018 and 2028. To put that into perspective, all occupations across the country have a projected 5 percent job growth over the same decade.
One way that educational institutions are preparing to meet the swelling demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals in management is increasing distance-learning options. U.S. universities have risen to the challenge. According to the Babson Survey Research Group (2018), nearly one-third of all higher education enrollments in the fall of 2016 were online, with one-sixth of enrollments by students who were exclusively enrolled in distance learning courses.
MHA graduates have gone into varied leadership roles in healthcare, including positions such as clinic director, healthcare administrator, hospice plan administrator, hospital director, medical and health information manager, mental health program manager, nursing home manager, occupational therapy director, public health administrator, respiratory therapy director, and wellness manager, among others.
Learn more about healthcare administration programs designed to help meet the growing demand for healthcare administrators and clinical research managers in our FAQ.
Before entering into nursing administration, it is expected that an administrator will have experience as a practicing nurse. As a result, the very first step to becoming a nurse administrator is to decide how one wants to enter into nursing practice. This guide will cover possible journeys to nursing administration when one begins nursing as an ADN-RN, an LPN/LVN, or a BSN-NP.
Nurse administrators may not be involved with the day-to-day care of patients but rather are occupied with scheduling, managing budgets, overseeing nurses, writing reports, and ensuring a high quality of patient care.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) states that compliance programs are a mandatory condition of enrollment in federal healthcare programs like Medicare and Medicaid. For professionals working in those programs, certification can help mitigate compliance-related risks.
Healthcare quality certifications are available to clinicians (RNs, NPs, MDs, etc.), non-clinicians, administrators, and support staff. Regardless of one’s role in the healthcare arena, pursuing certification can lead to promotions or greater responsibility, higher salaries, and stronger presence in the job market.
With part-time and online master of health informatics (MHI) programs, working professionals can advance their skills and earn their degree while continuing to work. An increasing population coupled with increased digital recordkeeping means healthcare informatics is a stable job with a lot of growth potential.
