There are two sides to any hospital. The public-facing side is typically represented by the doctors and the nurses who administer medications and treatments to patients. And there’s the administrative side, which keeps a hospital running smoothly and efficiently. Both of these sides save lives and are utterly reliant on one another. So if you don’t quite have the passion for medicine, but you’re passionate about saving lives and making lives better, a career in healthcare administration may be the perfect route for you. Here’s what you can do to qualify in this important role.
Qualifications
Your qualifications ultimately start at school. Before you even consider hitting out for university, it’s important that you begin to focus on the most crucial subjects for administrative roles, such as Math and English. Both of these subjects are crucial for any administrator and will be required for you to join a university course. Even if you left school long ago, you could always return to night classes to polish up your skills before you apply to a university or college.
University
Now you’re prepared with better grades and fresh knowledge about the kind of administrative skills you’ll develop further in higher education, it’s time to start applying for university courses. Here, you should look into healthcare administration careers and the kinds of courses that tend to go hand in hand with the most exciting and best-paid jobs. Universities offer both online and offline classes in this department that are designed to give you the skills, either in a three-year or one-year course, to go on to get the job you’re after in hospital office buildings. Again, remember that these degrees require determination, dedication, and discipline. But they’re rewarding, helping you get the jobs that’ll pave the way for your career.
Starter Jobs
There are two types of starter jobs in the field of administration. The first is offered to unqualified individuals – people who’ve skipped university and so will only be trusted with basic data sources and simple tasks. And the second are those jobs that require the training and qualifications you’ve gained from university. The latter is paid higher, gives you more responsibility, and helps you have a far greater impact on patients’ lives across the hospital you cover. Jobs are the next phase in your learning cycle, building on your knowledge while securing you a paycheck.
Advancing Your Career
Finally, it’s important that you’re always looking for ways to advance your knowledge so that you’ll be able to make great strides in your career. For instance, if you’re working in a low-level office job, there will be opportunities for you to take extra work that’ll give you more experience in a certain field. If you’re stuck in a career rut, there are sideways movements to other hospitals that might give you more exciting jobs. And you can speak to managers directly to discuss career advancement – showing you’re keen to progress.
Make a career for yourself in hospital and healthcare administration with these key tips.
