Is a career in healthcare administration worthwhile?

Can I get a job at a hospital with a BBA with no healthcare experience?

• I recently graduated with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and I'm really interested in pursuing a healthcare career. Since I don't have any experience in healthcare, I'm planning to volunteer at a nearby hospital. I'm planning on going to a nearby college to get my ADN to become an RN. (Considering time, cost, and location) and hopefully get a job as a CNA/PCA while in nursing school. I was hoping that after a few years of work experience, I could move up to a nurse manager since I already have a bachelors degree. Is this a good route to take for someone with a BBA with no healthcare experience?

• Answer:

  With no background in health care, I believe you will find the nursing school curriculum, with its anatomy and physiology, chemistry, pharmacology, biology, etc., to be very challenging. Working as a CNA while in nursing school would be great patient-care experience, but I doubt you'd have the time to do both things. As a CNA, you'll go home physically worn out and sweated-out every day, only to face a long night of studying. And when would you attend class/do your clinicals? So, by all means, become a nurse if that is what is on your heart, but bear in mind that while you are in nursing school, you will not have much time for other things. Since you will most likely be supervising CNA's once you become an RN, it is a good idea to work as a CNA so you will know first-hand what they do and how hard their job is. Your idea of volunteering at your local hospital or nursing home is a great one. It will be good for you to see (and smell) firsthand what a day in the life of a nurse or CNA is really like. Your volunteer work will also give you the opportunity to ask questions and learn from those already working in the field you are interested in. In health care, experience, including volunteer experience, counts for a lot. Take your volunteering experience seriously, and I think it may really pay off for you. All the best to you.