Nursing administrators supervise the nursing staff at health and medical care offices. As a nursing administrator, you may be part of the management team and considered the team leader for the nurses and nursing assistants employed at the office. Other nursing administrators work in management positions with home health care providers or assisted living facilities.

Starting a Career in Nursing Administration

Experienced nurses often move into the nursing administration career field by earning a graduate degree or completing a certificate program in management. In many cases, medical employers prefer to promote from within the organization, and may provide financial assistance for you to work towards an advanced degree or earn certification through nursing administration programs. Hospitals, clinics, medical consulting companies, and organizations providing nursing care often provide a career path into administration.

Educational Requirements for a Career in Nursing Administration

Nursing administrators may start their careers as registered nurses and earn a bachelor of science in nursing degree. Many take the opportunity to continue their education by attending nursing administration schools where they earn a master's degree in nursing administration or health care management. You may even find that earning a master's of business administration (MBA) in management or business with a focus on health care can be helpful to your nursing administrator career.

The Nursing Administrator Career: Salary and Future Job Projections

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the job field for health care service managers should expand by 16 percent through 2018. Nursing administrators with experience and training should have numerous job opportunities in the field. The median salary in 2009 for nursing administrators working in the medical and health management field was $81,850 and the top 10 percent earned about $140,300.


University of Phoenix

Whether you're seeking an associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree, University of Phoenix can help you reach your goal much sooner than you might expect. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • B.S. in Health Administration/Long Term Care
  • Doctor of Health Administration
  • Master of Health Admin
  • M.S. in Nursing/Health Care Education
  • M.S. in Nursing/MBA/Health Care Management
  • A.A. in Health Care Administration
  • Master of Health in Administration/Health Care Education
  • Master of Health in Admin - Gerontology
  • M.S. in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
  • B.S. in Health Administration - Emergency Management
  • B.S. in Health Administration - Health Management

University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix makes higher education highly accessible. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • BS in Health Administration - Health Management
  • Master of Health Administration
  • Master of Health in Administration/Education
  • BS in Health Administration/Long Term Care
  • BS in Health Administration - Emergency Management
  • MS in Nursing/Master of Health Administration
  • BS in Health Administration
  • MS in Nursing/MBA/ Health Care Management

AIU Online

Earn an online degree that really matters from AIU Online. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • Bachelor's of Business Administration in Healthcare Management
  • MBA - Healthcare Administration

Virginia College - Online

Set your career in motion at Virginia College. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • AS - Medical Office Administration

Grand Canyon University

Don't Miss a Day of Your Future! More>>

Programs Offered:
  • B.S. in Health Care Administration

South University

South University offers excellence in education, online convenience, and more than 100 years of tradition. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • Healthcare Management (BS)
  • Business Administration (MBA) degree program in Healthcare Administration (MBA)

The University of Liverpool

Earn a masters degree from the online university for business professionals worldwide. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • MSc in International Management (Management of Health Systems)

Everest Institute

Reach your career goals with a degree or diploma from Everest Institute. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • Medical Administrative Assistant (Diploma)

Sanford-Brown Institute

Turn your love of medicine into a rewarding career at Sanford-Brown Institute. Learn more today. More>>

Programs Offered:
  • Health Care Management: Long Term Care