The field of nursing home administration offers an exciting blend of challenge and satisfaction. Successful operation of a nursing home requires strong management ability integrated with a deeply felt commitment to humane care. The role of administrator is complex, heavily affected by law and regulation and demands a high level of interpersonal skill as well as technical administrative competence. Persons who qualify can expect increasing demand for their services as the nation's older population continues to grow and require long-term health care.
A license is required to administer a nursing home in each of the 50 states. In the State of Minnesota, requirements for licensure as a nursing home administrator are established by the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators, 2829 University Avenue S.E., Suite 440, Minneapolis, MN 55414-3245; telephone 612-617-2117. Licensure is granted only by the Board of Examiners and all decisions regarding individual qualifications are made by this board. Requirements for licensure include a baccalaureate or higher degree, satisfactory completion of specific board-approved academic course work, a practicum and passing scores on national and state examinations. Applicants for this license are strongly advised to have direct contact with the Board of Examiners before pursuing any component of an educational program.
Courses which meet educational requirements for licensure are not restricted to students in this program and are generally available without special permission beyond normal prerequisites. However, admission to the practicum is selective and open only by application to and permission of the program director. For this reason and in order to avoid errors in planning and completing requirements, early and frequent contact with the program director is essential.
Courses numbered 400 and lower are undergraduate; courses numbered 500 and higher are graduate level. Information regarding when courses are offered is supplied by the department and subject to change. Contact the program director or the department offering the course for current scheduling information. The required educational content areas and board-approved MSU courses are as follows:
Health Science 659, Health Care Administration or Management 330, Principles of Management.
Accounting 210, Managerial Accounting.
Gerontology 200, Aging: Interdisciplinary Perspectives GERO600 Theory and Practice or Sociology 404/504, Sociology of Aging.
Health Science 4/555 Health and Aging or Nursing 340 Gerontological Nursing.
Gerontology 480/580, Nursing Home Administration.
Political Science 463/563, Public Personnel Administration or Management 4/540 Human Resource Management or Political Science 662, Seminar: Human Resource Management
Management 200, Introduction to MIS
Gerontology 498/698, Practicum in Nursing Home Administration.
The practicum is an intensive participative learning experience conducted within a licensed nursing home under the supervision of a licensed administrator and the MSU program director. It provides opportunity for the administrator-in-training to gain first-hand knowledge of the complex role of nursing home administrator through observation, study and participation in the daily life and activities of the facility. The practicum is normally conducted in one of several area facilities which participate regularly with MSU in the preparation of nursing home administrators. The minimum number of clock hours normally required for the practicum is 400 at the rate of at least 20 hours a week for one semester. Any reduction in this number of hours (e.g., for prior experience) is to be determined by the Board of Examiners in consultation with the MSU program director. This is an unpaid practicum and requires prior application and registration for four semester credits of Gerontology 498 or 698. The following prerequisites apply to the practicum:
At Minnesota State University, Mankato, the Nursing Home Administration licensure program is often pursued as a part of a broader program of study leading to either a bachelor's or a master's degree. When this is done, it is recommended that the degree program include substantial work in gerontology, business, health science, and sociology with major and minor chosen from among these fields of study. At the graduate level, the Master of Science in Gerontology is a frequently selected option.
For schedules of courses, contact the registrar at Minnesota State University, Mankato 507-389-6266.
For program information contact:
Jim Tift, Director