Job Spotlight: Nursing Home Administrator
JOB SPOTLIGHT: NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR (NHA) **UPDATED JUNE 2019**
As a large number of Baby Boomers get older and retire, the need for high-quality, experienced nursing home administrators (NHAs) is growing rapidly and only expected to continue to rise. In the next ten years, we will need more retirement facilities and more nursing home administrators to manage them, it is also possible that the number of assisted living recruiters will rise up. As one of the top healthcare recruiting companies in California, we at De Vore help to place the right candidates with the right facilities for this director-level position.
What does a Licensed Nursing Home Administrator Do?
Licensed NHAs oversee and manage nursing homes, assisted living facilities and retirement communities where elderly and disabled people live. As the head of operations, a nursing home administrator wears a lot of hats and plays a crucial role in keeping their facility running smoothly. The actual administrative, clinical and managerial tasks the nursing home administrator does will depend on how big their facility is. If they are part of a large, corporate chain, they will manage a large staff, but if they are at a smaller facility, the NHA will do much of the work and training themselves. In a smaller home, they may also be the head of the human resources and public relations departments. Nursing home administrators supervise the various departments in their organization, including finance, food services, social services and maintenance. They make sure their facility is in compliance with the latest state, federal and local laws and regulations. They also develop and implement policies and procedures within the organization and manage the monthly budget and finances. A quality NHA will be able to balance compassion and care for the residents and their family members while still working to keep a high occupancy rate and make the right business decisions for the facility.
How to Become a Nursing Home AdministratorÂ
Searching jobs for Nursing home administrators have to get their bachelor’s degree in healthcare administration. While a master’s degree in health administration, public health, business administration or long term care administration is not a requirement, many licensed NHAs do get a master’s both to further their knowledge and also set them apart from other candidates.  The next step is to work toward both state and national licensing.
NHA Federal and State Licensing
Licensed nursing home administrators have to follow both federal and state requirements.  The National Association of Long Term Care Administrator Boards (NAB)has information about both national and state-specific processes. While the individual state requirements differ, all prospective NHAs have to sit for the national exam. The NAB website is a great resource for practice tests as well as to learn more about each state’s requirements. The majority of states also require a minimum of 400 hours as an administrator-in-training (AIT.) The licensing process helps ensure that every NHA knows how to comply with state and federal regulations while still being able to manage the various departments in their organization.
A Typical Nursing Home Administrator Salary
While the income for an NHA varies depending on his or her experience, location, credentials and size of the facility, a licensed nursing home administrator can expect to make close to six figures. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an average annual salary of $100,000+ or nursing home administrator average salary. At De Vore, we are always on the lookout for the best candidates. We like to see NHAs who are sensitive to their residents’ needs, who are good verbal and written communicators, and who understand the importance of generating revenue. We also prefer candidates with a stable career history. If you would like to find out about our available licensed nursing home administrator positions, call our skilled nursing home administrator recruiters today at 877-411-4358. Contact Sean today to discuss how you can continue to find and attract the best talent for a Nursing Home Administrators.
Office: 877-411-4358
Mobile: 323-864-3030
Fax: 310-220-3106