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If you’re aiming to enter a fast-growing industry, you can consider the healthcare sector.
Healthcare administration offers a great alternative if you want to avoid direct contact with the patients.
In this role, you’ll handle the staffing, improve operational efficiency, and oversee the finances of the facility.
Read on if you’re curious about this job!
Article Table of Contents
Job Description of a Healthcare Administrator in Arizona
Healthcare administrators are crucial in keeping their facilities running efficiently and effectively.
They also identify areas for improvement and implement necessary changes.
For a clearer understanding of their responsibilities, take a look here:
- Improving efficiency
- Managing finances and budget
- Maintaining health records
- Coordinating staff schedules
- Overseeing hiring and salaries
- Addressing the needs of doctors, nurses, and other staff
- Ensuring the facility is following healthcare laws and regulations
As a healthcare administrator, your responsibilities may vary depending on your employer.
It’s common for duties to be adjusted based on the needs of the facility you’re working in—this flexibility is a normal part of the job.
Ideal Candidates for a Healthcare Administrator
Nurses are some of the best candidates for roles in healthcare administration.
Their direct interactions with patients and families provide valuable insight into patient care, while their clinical experience gives them a deep understanding of the hospital’s staffing, supply, and medication needs.
Typically, candidates for this job hold a master’s degree in healthcare administration.
To start on this path, you’ll need first a high school diploma or equivalent, followed by nursing training.
Once you obtain a master’s degree a wide range of career opportunities in healthcare administration becomes available.
Steps to Become a Healthcare Administrator in Arizona
No matter the career path you choose, there are always steps to follow.
Up next, we’ll break down the specific steps to becoming a healthcare administrator in Arizona.
Pursue a BSN Degree From an Accredited Program
Leadership positions in nursing typically require a bachelor’s degree.
Nurses can achieve this by earning an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) and then progressing to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).
While a traditional BSN program usually takes about four years, quicker options like accelerated BSN programs or RN-to-BSN bridge programs can expedite the process.
Build Experience in Nursing or Healthcare Administration
Registered nurses looking to move into administrative roles need to build valuable clinical experience.
There are several paths to achieve this, including these positions:
- Nurse team leader
- Supervisor
- Manager
These positions will help you cultivate essential leadership and administrative skills, strengthening your resume for future opportunities.
Explore a Master’s Degree
While a master’s degree isn’t mandatory for healthcare administration positions, it can significantly boost your career advancement and salary potential.
Earning a Master of Healthcare Administration (MHA) typically takes 1-3 years, depending on whether you’re enrolled full-time or part-time.
Other options, such as master’s programs in public health or dual degrees in nursing and management, also offer strong pathways into healthcare administration.
Pursue Professional Certification
Earning a specialized certification can strengthen your expertise in healthcare administration.
Nurses may consider pursuing certifications like the Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC) or Certified Nurse Manager and Leader (CNML).
These certifications typically require several years of leadership experience and successful completion of a certification exam.
Schools for Healthcare Administrators in Arizona
It is time to find out which schools offer training for future healthcare admins in this state!
Arizona College of Nursing/Arizona College 
To get into the Associate degree program offered here, you need:
- A CGPA of 2.0 or better
- Be a graduate of a program in the allied health field that has at least 40 quarter credits
- 18 quarter credits must be in healthcare-related courses
The program lasts for 30 weeks and the classes take place online.
You’ll receive an iPad loaded with the needed textbooks.
It is included in the tuition and you’ll be able to keep it when you graduate.
Those who need help paying the tuition can receive financial help.
Every 5 weeks new sessions are made available.
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Arizona College of Nursing/Arizona College | 2510 W Dunlap Ave, Suite 300 Phoenix, AZ 85021 |
Income of a Healthcare Administrator in Arizona
You’ve gathered important information about this profession, but let’s talk about salary.
Healthcare administrators in Arizona typically earn around $101,920 per year.
If you’re interested in discovering which cities offer higher salaries for healthcare administrators, check out the table below for more details!
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Yuma | $111,756 |
| Cibola | $106,629 |
| Chloride | $104,013 |
| Phoenix | $103,385 |
| Scottsdale | $103,385 |
| Tempe | $103,385 |
| Mesa | $103,385 |
| Gilbert | $103,385 |
| Glendale | $103,385 |
| Cashion | $103,176 |
Regional Salary in Arizona
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flagstaff, AZ | 230 | $131,420 | $63.18 | $216,580 | $73,790 |
| Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ | 250 | $105,380 | $50.66 | $164,340 | $53,100 |
| Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, AZ | 7,540 | $137,070 | $65.9 | $223,300 | $65,920 |
| Prescott, AZ | 280 | $122,110 | $58.71 | $179,150 | $62,490 |
| Sierra Vista-Douglas, AZ | 140 | $125,410 | $60.29 | $177,950 | $65,030 |
| Tucson, AZ | 1,400 | $137,220 | $65.97 | $208,980 | $69,670 |
| Yuma, AZ | 180 | $128,360 | $61.71 | $174,840 | $62,950 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would anyone want to become a healthcare administrator in Arizona?
This field is one of the most important ones in the medical sector.
The healthcare administration personnel focus on personnel management and the healthcare aspect, as equally as possible.
Not to mention that salaries are very good.
Are salaries good for healthcare administrators in Arizona?
As seen from the table above, the median salary for these professionals is over $100k per year.
As a beginner, you might not earn this much, but other factors will influence your paycheck.
What degree is best for a healthcare administrator in Arizona?
Out of the 4 types of degrees available, the master’s is probably the best one to get.
Yet, this degree is not mandatory for this job.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Healthcare Administrator
Healthcare Administrator by State