MHA Degree Complements Nursing Careers
Although job prospects for registered nurses will continue to rise in the coming decade – the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports an expected 23 percent growth for clinical nurse specialists at least predicted through 2016. The healthcare industry is growing at a rapid pace as the world population grows older with people living longer due to technological advances in medical care.
Job Duties
A clinical nurse specialist is a medical professional who has received advanced training completing requirements to receive an MHA. These individuals remain registered nurses with greater licensing privileges including the ability to diagnose personal medical conditions and prescribe appropriate treatment. A clinical nurse specialist can focus a career path in a number of specialties including psychiatric care, pediatrics, gerontology and more. Clinical nurse specialists through an MHA course of study become experts in their chosen specialty. Other job duties include responsibilities for implementing and supervising out-patient care programs, developing and training facility care teams, coordinating and supervising research efforts as well as teaching and mentoring facility staff.
Leadership Development
Qualified clinical nurse specialists take the lead in three distinct areas of healthcare concern – patient/family interaction, supervision and training of nursing personnel and management of systems and network organizations. As a trained MHA graduate, clinical nurse specialists can deal directly with patients when diagnosing illnesses and recommending treatment programs. Training through the MHA program develops interaction skills necessary to deal with the highly emotionally charged situations present when discussing personal health issues with patients and their families. Training allows MHA graduates to exhibit the leadership skills acquired that help a specialist maintain quality training of staff personnel keeping current with all up-to-date technology and procedures that make any healthcare operation successful. Furthermore, a specialist receives training qualifying them to take the lead operating the business end of a healthcare facility implementing both policy and procedure to operate quality care at affordable costs while maintaining a sound financial foundation in which the facility operates.
Master’s Level a Necessity for Advancement
Candidates must earn at least a master’s level education to be officially certified as a specialist. Registered nurses with a bachelor degree should consider enrolling in an online MHA program to participate in a course of study that provides a relaxed and easily accessible course of study.
Additionally, RNs seeking healthcare industry positions outside of patient care contact can find training to enter a number of highly specialized areas including:
• Case Managers
• Forensic Nursing
• Infectious Disease Control Management
• Legal Nursing Consultation
• Personnel Administration (Human Resources)
• Insurance Industry Consultant
• Education Plan Development
Non-profit and Policy Planning
Many opportunities also are on the rise for RNs with an MHA degree working in public policy advocacy or planning – either in government or non-profit settings. With management training through a master’s level course of study, RNs can put their practical experience to use along with skills acquired through an MHA program in settings beyond the traditional healthcare facility.
Specialized skills are becoming increasingly more sought after throughout many different industries and continue to be much in demand in the always-growing healthcare segment.