What are the pros and cons of being a nursing home administrator?

The pros and cons of being a nursing home administrator relate to helping people, job security, and a stressful work environment. Here are the top pros and cons of being a nursing home administrator:

Pros:

• Helping people

One of the best aspects of being a nursing home administrator is the ability you have to help people. Seniors and elderly clients are oftentimes vulnerable when they don't have the right amount of attention and care. As a nursing home administrator, you get to help run an environment that seeks to give quality care to these clients. It can be fulfilling work.

• Job security

With a continually aging population, the necessity for nursing homes and growth within this field is almost a guarantee. This industry is expected to grow more in the near future and this means that the demand for nursing home administrators will be high. It also means that these professionals can find work in a wide variety of states and regions.

• Compensation

Nursing home administrators earn good salaries that also often include comprehensive employee benefits, like health care and retirement plans, and even sometimes the potential for bonus pay. The average salary of a nursing home administrator in the United States is $125,067 per year.

• Variety of tasks and responsibilities

Nursing home administrators often have a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities, including managing nursing home staff, overseeing finances, and maintaining regulatory compliance. This keeps the job interesting and fresh. This position is perfect for those that enjoy being people managers and solving problems.

Cons:

• Stressful work environment

Working in a nursing home can be stressful, and if you are responsible for its operations, like a nursing home administrator is, it can be exceedingly stressful. This is because these professionals are in charge of overseeing the safety and care of their elderly clients. They also must face challenges related to difficult residents and their family members.

• Working hours

Nursing home administrators put in a lot of hours on average. Many have work weeks that exceed 40 hours. These professionals often also have to work in the evenings, on weekends, and on some holidays.

Nursing home administrators must make sure that their facilities remain in compliance with all relevant regulations, laws, and standards. This can often be stressful, time-consuming, and overall challenging work

• It can be a tough job emotionally

One of the major drawbacks of being a nursing home administrator is that the work can take an emotional toll. Some administrators grow very close to their residents and residents in nursing homes tend not to live for very long periods of time. This makes experiencing the loss of residents particularly difficult.