Best Online Master's Degrees in Nursing Administration

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*Tuition information is based on published tuition and required fees, per data by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).

Online master's degree programs in healthcare administration are very similar to online master's programs in nursing administration. They can qualify individuals for some of the same jobs and have overlapping curriculum topics. There are significant differences between the two, however.

Nursing administration programs cover healthcare administration specifically from a nurse's perspective. Students must often be registered nurses and are prepared to lead nursing departments upon graduation. While nursing administration programs are less clinical than traditional nursing programs, graduates are still qualified to perform clinical duties alongside their administrative duties.

Healthcare administration programs, on the other hand, cover the industry of healthcare administration as a whole. The curriculum is more business and management-based and typically doesn't require any clinical training. Students learn leadership skills, financial management, and healthcare topics such as policy, ethics, health informatics, and technology. The jobs this degree qualifies graduates for include medical and health services manager, health information manager, assistant administrator, or director of business functions. This degree alone typically does not prepare graduates for any clinical-based jobs.

Nursing administration certificates are available and there's no shortage of in-person programs to choose from; there's even entire nursing universities in Oregon and plenty of nursing schools on the East coast. However, nursing administration programs are intensive, and an online program can provide some flexibility that you may not be able to find elsewhere. Additionally, a master's degree in nursing administration can help you earn more knowledge and skills than a certificate program and can set you apart from other candidates when applying for nursing jobs of any kind.

How Long Does It Take to Earn an Online Master's in Nursing Administration?

Master's degree programs in nursing administration take about 2 years to complete with a typical requirement of around 33-36 credits. Online programs are structured a bit differently due to the flexibility they offer. Many online nursing administration programs have rolling start dates and courses that last from 7-10 weeks. This can speed up the time of completion significantly. Some programs allow students to finish within a year or so but the average time is about 1 and a half years.

The curriculum for online master's degree programs in nursing administration is a little different than general nursing curriculum, although the courses can overlap. Fewer clinical courses are taken and students learn more about how healthcare works from behind the desk, with courses in policy, management, and finance, among others. Leadership and organization skills play a large role in nursing administration curriculum as well as decision-making skills. By the end of a program, students should have the knowledge needed in order to lead teams of nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Nursing Administration Foundational Courses

Nursing administration foundational courses cover a broad range of areas related to administrative nursing positions, such as healthcare policy, financial management, team leadership, and advocacy. Students get an overview of how current healthcare administrations function, from their structure, organization, and practices to common issues that need to be addressed. Foundational curriculum usually includes one or more introduction courses that cover healthcare technology, ethics, and research. A few examples of foundational courses in nursing administration programs include:

• Healthcare Law, Policy, and Ethics
• Research
• Nursing/healthcare Technology
• Population Health
• Foundations for Nursing Practice
• Systems, Financial, and Organizational Management
• Nursing Leadership

Nursing Administration Specialist and Elective Courses

In many cases, nursing administration itself is offered as a concentration within an MSN program, so the nursing administration courses count as specialist courses. These courses may cover topics such as healthcare organization, administrative management, financial and resource management, and issues in human resources organizations, all from the perspective of nursing administration. One or more specialist courses may be reserved for completing an evidence-based practicum, apprenticeship, or project. Usually, a program will require an apprenticeship or practicum as well as a project to ensure students can demonstrate knowledge and practical skills.

Licensure and Certification in Nursing Administration

All nurses who work in leadership or other administrative positions must hold an RN license for the state in which they work. As for certification, there are several kinds available for nursing professionals who want to take on an advanced role. Many are for clinical positions, such as a nursing case management certification program but plenty of administrative certifications are also available. A few include:

• The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) offers the Nurse Executive Board Certification. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in nursing, an RN license, 2,000 hours of experience in a nursing leadership position directing 1 or more units, and complete 30 hours of continuing education courses. An exam is included and recertification is required every 5 years. An advanced nurse executive credential is also available.
• The American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) offers 2 certification programs, the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML) and the Certified in Executive Nursing Practice (CENP). CNML certification is for nurses who can demonstrate their success in leading and managing nursing staff. The CENP certification is for executive nurses who still engage in clinical practice. Both certifications require an exam.

The admissions requirements for online nursing administration master's programs are usually specific and tougher than other master's degree programs. Applicants must have a bachelor's degree in nursing and have a Registered Nurse (RN) license in good standing. Some programs require applicants to have at least a year's worth of experience in nursing. Other admissions requirements include:

• A minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0
• Completion of a statistics and research and methodology course (this varies by school)
• Letters of recommendation
• Transcripts
• Statement of purpose or demonstration of aptitude for professional nursing

Once accepted, students may also need to undergo a background check before beginning nursing courses.

A nursing administration master's degree can open the door to a broad range of nursing and healthcare related positions since graduates have both clinical and administrative knowledge and skills. They aren't limited to working in medical offices or hospitals, either. Nurses who hold a master's degree and have nursing experience can even become nursing professors and teach aspiring nurses. A few other careers that are possible with this degree can include:

• Nursing Home Administrator
• Director of Nursing
• Nurse Executive
• Clinical Manager
• Health Director
• Nurse Manager/Supervisor

They can work in a range of environments, including home health care agencies, colleges and universities (online and campus), health insurance companies, and ambulatory care offices, among others.

Job Outlook for a Master's in Nursing Administration

Careers that benefit from a master's in nursing administration, such as nurse managers and nursing home administrators, are expected to grow significantly. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical and health services managers is expected to increase by 32 percent from 2019-2029. While this field doesn't just include nurse managers, the increase in demand for health services in physician's offices, nursing homes, and other health practitioner offices means there will be an increase in demand for managers of the healthcare staff in these facilities, which includes nurse managers who lead a variety of healthcare staff.

How to Become a Nurse Manager

A nurse manager, who is someone who works as a clinical manager specifically for a nursing department, oversees the day-to-day operations and quality of care for their department. They may also be called a nurse executive, clinical nurse manager, or chief nursing officer. Their responsibilities can include setting and implementing goals, policies, and procedures for the nursing department to ensure the best care is being given to patients by staff members. They also have some financial responsibility by overseeing department budgets and writing reports. Nurse managers typically work in hospitals, physician's offices, or outpatient care centers and can work closely with physicians, nurses, surgeons, and other administrative staff such as insurance agents.

Nurse managers need, at the very least, a bachelor's degree in nursing, an RN license, and previous experience as a registered nurse. A master's degree, however, is more common and may be preferred or required by employers. Optional certification is available with the Certified Nurse Manager and Leader and Certified Executive Nursing Practice credentials from the AONL, among others. The salary for medical and health services managers varies by specific job type. According to PayScale, nurse managers have an average yearly salary of $86,802 as of 2021.

How to Become a Nursing Professor

Nursing professors teach courses to students in nursing degree and certificate programs. Much of their job duties are the same as regular college professors, such as developing curriculum, giving assignments, tests, and exams, and grading work. Depending on the courses they teach, the specific curriculum may be more hands-on. Nursing professors can choose a discipline to go into; for example, a nurse with infant care experience can teach courses on the topic. A nurse with nursing administration experience can teach health management or other related courses. Many nursing professors work part-time as a professor and maintain a clinical career alongside.

Nursing professors who work at 4-year universities most likely need a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), which is a terminal nursing degree. However, smaller universities may hire those with a master's degree. Either way, an advanced nursing degree is needed for the position. The BLS states that postsecondary teachers can expect an employment increase of 9 percent from 2019-2029. According to PayScale, nursing professors have an average yearly salary of $69,797.

While there are plenty of professional organizations dedicated to the advancement of the nursing profession as a whole, there are a few that are specific to the field of nursing administration.

One example is the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL). Formerly known as the American Organization for Nurse Executives, the AONL looks to advance nursing leadership by offering educational professional development courses, advocating for positive changes to the healthcare industry with specific attention to the needs of nursing leaders, and fostering a diverse community of over 10,000 nurse leaders.

The organization offers several types of memberships, including full membership for registered nurses, associate membership for those who support the mission, student membership for pre-licensure nursing students, and group membership for professional groups and teams in nursing. Members can access benefits such as subscriptions to nursing news, journals, and magazines; access to libraries and toolkits for implementing policies in their workplaces; networking and career development opportunities; and certifications and continuing education.

In order to advance to a nursing administration master's degree, most schools require applicants to have a bachelor's degree in nursing, or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). BSN degree programs teach foundational and introductory nursing knowledge and skills. This includes coursework in science and math, as well as clinical rounds to gain experience working with patients. A BSN degree most commonly prepares students to take the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN) to become a licensed registered nurse.

After the completion of a master's degree in nursing administration, graduates can go on to a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program. These programs are terminal nursing degrees and are designed to give students the most advanced nursing knowledge, skills, and experience in order to lead others and change healthcare outcomes from a clinical and administrative position. Schools may offer concentrations such as healthcare systems management, advanced practice, or executive leadership, among others. Students typically have a DNP project and/or clinical rotations.

Once accepted into a program, obtaining any necessary financial aid is the next step. There are plenty of ways to receive financial aid, one of which is federal student aid. By filling out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you can see what types of aid you qualify for. There are some criteria for federal student aid, which include:

• Having a valid social security number
• Be a legal citizen or have noncitizen status
• Be enrolled in an accredited postsecondary program
• Maintain an academic progress that is in good standing

Other ways to receive financial aid are to apply for scholarships from schools, organizations, and contests. Some have no requirements while others may require specifics such as a required major, degree level, or geographic area. A few include:

• The University of Southern California (USC) offers several scholarships for nursing students, some of which include the University Staff Club Graduate Scholarships, which awards $1,000 to a student enrolled in any graduate program at USC.
• The Nurses' Float Scholarship Fund offers $2,000-$7,500 to registered nurses pursuing a BSN-MSN degree.
• DiversityNursing.com offers a $5,000 Education Award to students in registered nursing programs at all levels or registered nurses who work full or part-time as practitioners or nurse administrators.