The Top Nursing MBA Online Programs

Top nursing MBA online programs primarily prepare students for administrative occupations in the healthcare industry. However, these degree programs also teach students valuable patient care techniques so they can manage healthcare facilities on both a large scale and an individual basis. Since the Baby Boomer generation is becoming older and more needful of medical assistance, a top online Master of Business Administration in Nursing is more valuable than ever. This degree will create a gateway to a number of high-paying careers. After graduating from one of the top nursing MBA online programs, students will be able to find administrative work in hospitals, outpatient facilities and public health clinics.

The key skill that graduates of online MBA nursing programs will learn is how to adapt business theory to the proper administration and maintenance of medical institutions. There are countless obstacles that healthcare institutions face on a daily basis including medical billing, personnel scheduling and asset budgeting. An MBA nursing online program will instruct students on how to manage all of these issues in order to maintain efficiency and profitability. In addition to these administrative skills, students pursuing an accredited online Master of Business Administration in Nursing will also learn patient care skills, therapy techniques and pharmacology.

How can I tell if an online MBA nursing degree is right for me?

An MBA online in nursing is ideal for students interested in learning how to use new medical technologies, consulting with patients about their medical needs and implementing treatment plans.

Some other traits that are common in many online MBA nursing students are:

• A flair for assisting and caring for others
• A propensity for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• A capacity for making decisions and solving problems
• A knack for getting information
• A skill for monitor processes, materials, or surroundings

How long does it take to earn an MBA online nursing degree?

The time it takes to earn a nursing MBA degree online is similar to the time it takes to earn other MBAs online. To complete this degree it generally requires 2 years of full-time education. But, students are able to earn the MBA in a more convenient manner at some colleges that have part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA nursing schools online?

An undergraduate degree is normally required before students can gain admission to online MBA nursing programs. While having an undergraduate degree in subjects including business administration, BSN, RN, and medicine may be ideal for those wanting to enroll in a good MBA nursing online program, it is generally not required.

Many online MBA in nursing programs also base admission on the following criteria:

• Personal interviews
• Academic transcripts
• Essays
• Graduate Management Admission Test scores (GMAT)

What courses will I take in nursing MBA programs online?

MBA online nursing programs first introduce students to the fundamentals of sound business practice before moving to advanced forms of nursing. New students can expect to take courses in nursing leadership and ethics, accounting and financial reporting, business communication and healthcare information systems.

From here, online nursing MBA schools focus on teaching healthcare administration skills and hands-on medical practice skills. Students pursuing their online MBA in nursing can expect to finish their program with classes covering healthcare economics, human resource leadership, advanced practice nursing, case management and nursing staff management.

In addition to coursework, internships are also done by some students in online nursing MBA programs. Such an internship can prove valuable in that it not only gives students an opportunity to practically apply the business and nursing skills they are learning in an actual business setting, but it can also serve as an introduction into a particular business or company.

What are the best online MBA in nursing books I should consider reading?

For students interested in nursing MBA careers, some insightful books include:

1. Nursing Ethics in Everyday Practice (Connie M. Ulrich, PhD.) – Ulrich’s book is perfect for students enrolled in nursing MBA schools online who want to familiarize themselves with the moral and ethical challenges of nursing.

2. The Nurse Manager’s Guide to Budgeting and Finance (Al Rundio, PhD, DNP, RN) – One of the most vital components of maintaining a healthcare institution is budgeting, so Rundio’s book is an invaluable tool that helps identify the major aspects of managing the finances of a healthcare facility.

3. The Nurse’s Social Media Advantage: How Making Connections and Sharing Ideas Can Enhance Your Nursing Practice (Robert Fraser, RN) – Fraser takes a novel approach to nursing by demonstrating how social media can be used by nurses to network and share medical information.

4. 101 Careers in Nursing (Jeanne M. Novotny, PhD.; Doris Lippman; Nicole Sanders, RN.; Joyce Fitzpatrick, PhD.) – To further illustrate the diverse career options available to nurses, this book offers concise job descriptions, education requirements and compensation estimates for 101 different nursing professions.

5. Population-Based Public Health Clinical Manual: The Henry Street Model for Nurses (Marjorie Schaffer, RN, PhD.) – This volume is a transcription of a professional nursing association that discusses how competent nursing practice can influence the health and well-being of surrounding communities.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue nursing MBA jobs?

Nursing is one of the most popular existing professions, evident in the fact that there are an estimated 2.7 million working nurses in the United States. An average nursing MBA salary will differ among occupations in the nursing field, but several median salaries are highlighted here:

• Health Service Managers: $84,270
• Registered Nurses: $64,690
• Health Information Technicians: $32,350
• Physician Assistants (private practice): $28,860

Nursing MBA students can look forward to entering an industry that is expected to see above average employment growth. The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the healthcare industry will experience a 28% employment increase over the next ten years. The primary reasons for this growth are attributed to both an aging Baby Boomer generation that will require more medical assistance and the emergence of new healthcare technologies that require more specialized nurses to operate. As a result, degrees from accredited schools with high online nursing MBA rankings are in demand more than ever.

Employers often prefer students who have graduated from AACSB accredited nursing MBA programs because accreditation by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business can be an indication that a business school gives students a quality education.

What are the top online schools to pursue an online Nursing MBA degree?

• Grand Canyon University
• University of Phoenix