6 Things to Know Before You Consider a Degree in Healthcare Administration

Studying for a degree in healthcare administration is a big decision – so you need to know what you’re in for.

Studying for any degree has the potential to change your future career trajectory for the better, but not all degrees will give you the same return on your educational investment.

Healthcare Degrees: Are They Worth it?

If you want to make a difference in healthcare but don’t want a career in a clinical role, taking a Master of Science in Health Care Administration is a great way to affect change from a managerial position.

Degrees are a good option to improve your education, but there are definitely a few things you should be aware of before you begin.

The Hours Could Be Very Long

If the idea of spending two years doing long hours every week with demanding rotations, call shifts, and patient care assignments sound terrible – you may not want to pursue an administrative role in the field of health care.

You could end up working 50 to 60 hours per week in some positions, and shift work is common.

While there are many benefits to your career, such as having a flexible schedule and earning a higher salary, it’s definitely not a career path for someone wanting an easy life!

Clinical Roles Are Just as Important as Admin Roles

There is more to healthcare than the nursing profession alone – the field has a wide variety of roles that fall under the umbrella of “administrative health care“.

When considering a healthcare degree, be aware that you will not just have the chance to work in one of these roles, but you will also have the opportunity to work alongside the clinical team.

You’re Not Just There to Fill Out Paperwork

Yes – some of it is important paperwork – but there is so much more to it than that.

You will be required to work with the clinical team to ensure the smooth running of their department, you will support and assist inpatient care, and you’ll attend a variety of meetings.

The Work Can Be Hard, But it Will Be Rewarding

It may be a lot of hard work, but you will have opportunities to make an impact on the healthcare system.

You may even end up working with colleagues to provide client-centered care and explore ways to improve the quality of care and patient safety.

Flexibility is Not Everything

You may be thinking about a health administration degree just because it will allow you to have a flexible schedule, but what about all of the ways that you can help your organization in other ways?

Healthcare degrees can prepare you for various roles – this isn’t strictly limited to administrators.

Your Role Will Be Challenging

You may feel as though your daily tasks are very simple – but there’s a reason that so many professionals need to go back to school for their healthcare degrees.

It’s not as easy as you think it is to balance budgets, find funding for projects, meet tight deadlines and manage staff at the same time.

You should know that some days will be challenging, and others will be more difficult than you’re used to – but this challenge is what makes the career rewarding.