How to Become a Nursing Home Administrator

Are you passionate about helping seniors live better lives? Interested in a leadership position that incorporates advocacy, organization, and communication skills? If you said yes to these questions, and you’re interested in a growing career field, you might be interested in learning how to become a nursing home administrator.

Not only are baby boomers the second-largest generation, they’re living longer and staying more active. This “gray tsunami” means the demand for senior living facilities and skilled nursing homes will increase in the next decades, and these communities need administrators to run well.

This is good news if you’re interested in a career in geriatric care — the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 28% job growth for medical and health service managers in the coming years. Compare that to just 3% expected growth in all other occupations. Could becoming an NHA be your next career opportunity? Here’s what you need to know about this position, and how to become a nursing home administrator.

What Is a Nursing Home Administrator?

Nursing home administrators (sometimes called long term care administrators) keep senior living facilities, skilled nursing facilities, and nursing homes running smoothly. This management role focuses on ensuring that residents get the care they need, and that staff are supported. They also guide potential residents on tours of the community, make decisions on behalf of the facility, and ensure that state requirements are met.

Unlike hospital administrators, this role focuses on post-acute care, so you can have the chance to get to know the people you serve on a daily basis. In smaller facilities, an NHA might be the only leadership on site. In larger facilities, you might work alongside a nurse manager, financial manager, or other support staff. While some nursing home administrators come from a nursing or medical background, most don’t, and this is generally a non-clinical role.

What Does a Nursing Home Administrator Do?

Along with overseeing the daily operation of a residential facility, much of an NHA’s work is to ensure the facility complies with state and regulatory guidelines. Depending on the facility and the NHA, they may also be responsible for some clinical care tasks.

Here’s a list of some typical responsibilities that an NHA might do in a day:

• Plan budgets
• Write proposals
• Delegate tasks 
• Advocate for residents
• Hire and manage medical staff
• Interview employment candidates
• Tour potential new residents around the facility
• Organize records
• Monitor compliance with government guidelines
• Create and oversee patient care standards

Top Nursing Home Administration Skills

Wondering if your talents align with this role? Here are some of the skills that a nursing home administrator uses on a daily basis.

Leadership: This role involves managing team members, residents, and resident’s families. Conflicts can arise, and it’ll be your responsibility to mediate and lead the facility through day-to-day and big-picture changes.

Communication: A great NHA communicates clearly with members of the healthcare team, other admin staff, residents and their families, and external service providers. You’ll need to build relationships with people to do well in this role.

Empathy and compassion: It’s essential to truly care about the residents that live in your facility. Bringing empathy and compassion, not only for them but for your staff, will make you a great nursing home administrator. 

Problem-solving: What happens if a staff members call off of a shift and you need coverage? What if a resident comes to you with a complaint that’s not easy to solve? These are some of the small and large problems you’ll learn to tackle in this role.

How to Become a Nursing Home Administrator: 4 Steps

While a nursing background could make you a great fit for this role, you don’t have to be a nurse to be an NHA. Some NHAs are physicians, or have education in medical administration and management. If you are a nurse, transitioning into this role could take just a few years to gain the necessary education and become certified.

If you’re just starting out in your healthcare career, know that earning a bachelor’s and a certification are the basic essentials of this role. Advanced degrees, such as a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, will make you more competitive in the job market and advance your career. Here’s how to become a licensed nursing home administrator in four steps:

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

Pursuing a post-secondary degree will prepare you with the basic skills of this role, like balancing a budget and staffing considerations. A bachelor’s in healthcare administration is the ideal academic background for this role, but many NHAs have degrees in business management, nursing, or medicine.

Step 2: Gain Experience in a Facility

Working in an assisted living facility or another setting will help you apply your didactic knowledge to the real world while boosting your interpersonal and management skills. It’s also required for certification.

Entry-level roles may include working in an internship, filling in on night shifts, or assisting higher-level administrators with tasks. Having a background in nursing will likely make finding a role easier, because you’ll bring your valuable medical expertise.

Step 3: Get Certified

NHAs must be licensed by their state according to standards set by the National Association of Long-Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB). Some states use different credentials for their NHMs, so look up nursing home administrator requirements by state for specifics. In most states, you can complete the requirements for a nursing home administrator certification online.

Want to know how to become a licensed nursing home administrator? Here are the general requirements to qualify:

• Pass a background check
• Complete an Administrator in Training (AIT) program, which typically includes 1,000 hours of experience and education
• Take the nursing home administrator licensing examination, or it’s equivalent, in your state
• You’ll need to complete NAB-approved continuing education hours to maintain certification

Step 4: Earn a Master’s Degree

While a master’s degree isn’t required for every administrator role, you may find that it makes you more competitive and more confident in your career. If you’re a nurse, earning a bachelor’s could leverage you into a director of nursing (DON) role. Going back to school could also help you earn more income in your current administration job.

Here are some of the degrees that could help you continue to build your career in nursing home administration:

• Master of science in gerontology
• Master of business administration in healthcare
• Master of health administration
• Master of science in nursing administration
• Master of science in public health

How Much Do Nursing Home Administrators Make?

The BLS doesn’t provide a specific figure for a nursing home administrator salary, however, the average salary for medical and health services managers is $127,980 per year. Your salary can depend on your level of education and experience, your geographic location, and the facility in which you work.

Areas with the highest salaries for medical and health services managers are:

• New York
• District of Columbia
• New Jersey
• Massachusetts
• Delaware

Find a Better Way to Work

Learning how to become a nursing home administrator is the first step in your next career path. If you’re looking for new job opportunities, IntelyCare can help. Our tailored nursing job notifications put you in the know when new roles open up in your area. Sign up to learn more.