I’ve mentioned in another article that Nursing Home Administrators are well schooled and trained. I was referring more to common sense and experience and probably should have added that.
In truth, we really aren’t trained to be Administrators. Oh sure, most of us have to undergo internships, and a few I’ve seen are somewhat adequate. But unfortunately, most are not. Interns are seen as free labor and are generally treated that way. And yes, some Healthcare Administration Bachelor Degree Programs are helpful, but normally fail in the hands on knowledge aspect.
In my opinion, this is why so many people coming into the profession have so much trouble and why so many fail.
Most Administrators I know were professionals in other disciplines before they became Licensed Administrators. They were Directors of Nursing, or Finance Directors, or Social Workers, or Dietary Directors, et al. They saw only designated operational areas specific to their fields of responsibility.
A competent Nursing Home Administrator must have solid knowledge of each service discipline. Where do they get that while maintaining their own duties? That’s the problem - they don’t.
And yet, they earn their Administrator’s License, find employment as an Administrator, and then jump in. Most have varying degrees of unpreparedness. Learning on the job is not a good thing in this business!
I’ve never been one for an education based on theory. To be a skilled manager takes training, and training with hands on knowledge specific to their tasks. They must understand fundamental knowledge of clinical services, staffing and benefits administration (the heaviest cost centers), Plant Operations (Maintenance, Housekeeping, and Laundry), fiscal management, and an absolutely solid understanding of how Quality Assurance and Survey Preparation are so critically necessary to their success and the success of the organization. I’m sorry to say that most have skills or knowledge in too few of these areas.
To improve our profession, I propose that we either dump or effectively improve our Internship Programs. Certainly there must be exposure to experiencing the nursing home environment. But the actual hands-on training must be in a classroom environment, conducted by highly experienced Administrators selected based upon their history and track record in the industry. This will be the best environment to learn the critical aspects of the profession including Effective Quality Assurance Technique, Survey Preparedness, Fundamental of Clinical Services, The Psychology of Dealing With Residents and Family Dynamics, Plant Operation Requirements, Human Resources and Labor Law Requirements, Dietary Services Operations, Pharmacy Services, et al.
We should always keep in mind, as I have mentioned, that a nursing home is literally a medical hotel with all of the principles of both operations. And we must change our outlook and opinion of those individuals (residents) who live in that “hotel”. Yes, they are customers, but we really should be looking at them as “guests” as well.
Oh, and don’t forget the status of their families and your staff - you know, the ones that take up most of your time. They are customers, too!
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LTC Strategic Solutions
We are a long term care consulting and advisory firm focusing upon skilled nursing facility operations. We also provide services for the recruitment of Licensed Nursing Home Administrators for both Interim or Permanent assignments, and also Directors of Nursing.
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