Rather than managing large hospitals and medical group practices, you may want to become an administrator of a hospice to oversee end-of-life healthcare services specifically for patients with terminal illnesses. Whether employed through hospice programs in hospitals, nursing homes, residential centers, home health agencies, or independent medical facilities, there are a wide range of specialized job responsibilities for hospice administrators. Administrators for hospice programs must supervise staff members, form relationships with community members, perform financial budgeting activities, and ensure compliance with healthcare regulations. If you are interested in meeting the physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual needs of patients at the end of their life, read on to learn more about the steps to become a hospice administrator.
1. Complete a Relevant Bachelor’s Degree Program
In order to nurture the development of the foundational skills that will be needed to plan, implement, organize, and supervise the procedures of a hospice, you must first enroll in a bachelor’s degree program for a relevant field. While there are some bachelor’s degree programs in healthcare administration nationwide at larger universities, this is not a requirement for becoming an administrator for a hospice. In fact, many hospice administrators choose to start their academic training at the undergraduate level with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Earning a nursing degree will allow you to become a registered nurse and provide clinical experiences in healthcare facilities for entry-level hospice administration jobs.
2. Earn an Accredited Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration
Once you have completed a bachelor’s degree in a relevant major of your choice, you will need to further your education to the graduate level by earning an accredited master’s degree in healthcare administration at an institution approved by the Commission on Accreditation in Healthcare Management Education. Within the master’s program, you can expect to take coursework related to biostatistics, healthcare delivery, finance, economics, staff management, health policy, healthcare ethics, and long-term care administration. Furthermore, you will be required to complete a culminating internship and/or a Master’s thesis to advance your clinical management skills for achieving top positions as a hospice administrator.
3. Pursue Certification as a Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator
With the goal of demonstrating your specialized knowledge, expertise, advanced skills, and professional ethics, you should finally pursue certification through the National Board for Certification of Hospice and Palliative Nurses to become a Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Administrator. Candidates applying for this administrative certification examination must have an accredited master’s degree and have at least two years of full-time administrative experience prior to application. Once you are eligible, you will need to register for and successfully complete a computer-based examination that contains 150 multiple-choice questions about leadership, human resources, strategic planning, financial management, public relations, quality management, marketing, and more.
Related Resource: Master’s in Healthcare Administration Prerequisites
Graduates who have earned a master’s degree in healthcare administration are able to realize a wide range of entry and mid-level employment opportunities in medical facilities, including hospices. Since an estimated 1.5 million patients receive hospice care nationwide each year, there is an increasing demand for qualified hospice administrators to lead these growing programs and oversee operations for providing comforting end-of-life care. After following these steps to become an administrator of a hospice, you will eventually able to advance your career as a hospice vice president or CEO with years of administrative experience.
