A nursing home administrator oversees the facility’s operations and serves as the facility’s chief executive officer. Nursing home administrators typically have a master’s degree and are required to be licensed in the states in which they work. Individual states have different requirements for licensure, but in general, people must have proof of education and experience, preferably under the supervision of a preceptor, as well as the ability to pass an exam covering basic topics that nursing home administrators should be familiar with.
Skilled nursing facilities, or SNFs, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Others house very ill patients who may require complex and specialized nursing. Some are relatively healthy older adults who simply need some assistance with their daily lives, while others house relatively healthy older adults who simply need some assistance with their daily lives. A facility that is specifically designed for Alzheimer’s patients, for example, is highly specialized, with nurses who have been trained to deal with Alzheimer’s and dementia. A nursing home administrator is in charge of making sure that everything in the facility runs smoothly.
In large facilities, the administrator is usually aided people who may take on some of the responsibilities that a nursing home administrator would perform alone in a smaller facility. The administrator’s responsibilities usually include managing personnel, processing admissions into the facility, managing finances, and overseeing the home’s day-to-day operations. The nursing home administrator establishes and enforces policies, settles disputes, supervises the facility’s dietary program, and ensures that employees are properly trained.
It’s also crucial to keep an eye on the residents’ well-being. Skilled nursing facilities must provide residents with more than just medical care; they must also provide a high quality of life. Nursing homes typically have social programs that are overseen the administrator, as well as amenities like hair salons, movie screening rooms, and other amenities that are designed to make residents feel at ease and prevent boredom.
This type of work necessitates a high level of organization and multitasking abilities. A nursing home administrator may be dealing with several issues at any given time, some of which may be critical. Nursing home administrators must also keep up with changes in the law governing nursing homes, as well as address the concerns of concerned family members and elder advocacy organizations seeking assurance that residents are treated with compassion and respect.