Healthcare administrators manage and direct the programs and people of a facility, department, or group of physicians. It is often their job to maintain crucial database information and ensure that healthcare practitioners are operating successfully. Healthcare administrators fulfill the need for leaders and motivators in the healthcare industry, and are central to the institutions and programs they oversee. As the population grows, more individuals will require efficient health services. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that the need for healthcare administrators is projected to increase 17 percent from 2014 to 2024, far exceeding the average for all occupations. With a focus on nursing leadership in healthcare systems, APU students will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to lead and manage teams of healthcare providers in fields such as operations management, project management, and healthcare consulting.
“The MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership is an interdisciplinary program offered through both the School of Nursing and the School of Business and Management,” said Jill Olausson, RN, Ph.D., CDE, director of the MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership Program and assistant professor in the School of Nursing. “Research has shown that this type of preparation facilitates better team communication, problem solving, and collaboration, all crucial skills for professionals managing healthcare systems.” Students will take nursing core courses focused on the critical analysis of nursing and healthcare research and theory, bioethics, healthcare policy, and the integration of spirituality and health care.
Administration and leadership coursework is offered through the School of Nursing and the School of Business and Management. This interdisciplinary coursework includes leadership styles and theories, strategic planning, quality improvement and patient safety, change management, effective communication and conflict resolution skills, staffing challenges and constraints, financial management, and healthcare informatics. For their final capstone projects, students will critically examine relevant healthcare issues and propose evidence-based solutions. The program is designed to be flexible to meet the needs of working graduates and is offered in traditional, blended, and online formats and fulfills educational requirements necessary to sit for the American Organization of Nurse Executives nursing leadership exam.
For more information about APU’s MSN in Healthcare Administration and Leadership, please contact Jill Olausson, RN, Ph.D., CDE, program director, at jelrod@apu.edu or (626) 815-2056.