Boom or bust?

Golden Living Centers is a great company! Good Luck with your AIT search!

Keith Schnier in Atlanta, Georgia said: Oakwood Nursing Center in Ocala, FL is looking for an NHA. This building would be a good fit for a new administrator with great potential. See the Jobs Board on FHCA.ORG and let me know of your interest. Keith Schnier, kschnier@sterling-health.com

They want someone with at least 2 years experience. I already sent my resume in and that is what they had stated.

Hi Courtney

You may also try Life Care Center. Here is the website www.lcca.com/empl_admin.cfm
I have an interview with them in Cleveland TN on Monday. They have centers all over the place. I hope this helps too. Good Luck!

Jamila,

Good Luck on your interview! Keep us posted!

I am new to Florida and would like information as to which companies in the Pensacola area are to be employed with as an Administrator. I have not applied yet for my LNFA but am certified as an assisted living manager.

I have finally received two interviews set up for next week. I am unsure about what to say or how to act. I have been trying for an interview since June, but no one wants someone without experience and then out of the clear blue sky 2 companies called me this week and I have interviews set up for next week. Please keep me in your prayers. I truely would love to the job that I am capable of doing. If you are an administrator, please inform me as to how I should answer most questions. Thanks

Congratulations Tammy! Good luck with the interviews, I will be sending some positive thoughts your way...just be yourself, relax and go get that job!

Thank you Susan. I hope everything will work out great.

I am too in the market looking for an assistant position with a great company willing to five me an oppurtunity in the tampa bay area. I have thus far passed my state boards and am now preparing for the nationals. If anyone has any great leads for someone trying to get there foot in the door please help! Please.

Will be graduating from uttyler in December, looking for best place to take the 15hr required courses.

Texas State University in San Marcos is the best in Texas; their website is www.txstate.edu, the telephone number for the Dean's Office is 512-245-3300, they will be very pleased and will help you to get started. Wishing you the best of luck in your studies!

North texas State in Denton Tx, Abiline Christian University,or Texas state University San Marcus.

Tammy in Sumter, South Carolina said: I have finally received two interviews set up for next week. I am unsure about what to say or how to act. I have been trying for an interview since June, but no one wants someone without experience and then out of the clear blue sky 2 companies called me this week and I have interviews set up for next week. Please keep me in your prayers. I truely would love to the job that I am capable of doing. If you are an administrator, please inform me as to how I should answer most questions. Thanks

Just an update on my interviews. I first interview the administrator want me to relocate to an area I am not familiar with and I have a child in college. The second interview is only 20 miles from my home and he hired my yesterday. I am looking forward to using my license.

Am looking for a paid AIT in MA - how does someone find such a position? Shpuld I be working with a recruiter? Thanks

I have an interview tomorrow for a ALF. I've been looking since I received my licensure in August and this is the first place that finally called me back. If anyone have any advise on interviewing, please let me know. I will let you know how it goes after tomorrow and hopefully my feedback will help someone else.

I just spoke with someone from a company that I have an interview coming up with, and they told me that during the interview I should focus on my Administrator in Training work unless I have previous Administrator experience. Good Luck!

The absolute BEST recruiter that I have worked with is Misty Meints, you can reach her at 303-933-1067, if she cannot help you she will help you find someone that will. I asked Misty if I could post her information and she said for me to go ahead. I have spoken with two other recruiters that have been brutal, they make the world of job searching allot rougher than it has to be, so be careful. Keep looking until you find a position with a reputable company where you will be working with an Administrator that has a good reputation in the industry, and is a perfect fit for you, keep your chin up and do not get discouraged. It is imperitive to find an Administrator with a good reputation, their letter of recommendation means allot in the industry. Best wishes, and go telephone Misty ASAP, she will answer her messages, it may take her as much as one working day to get to you, but she will return your call. SKD

Thanks Susan

I have another interview setup for Ethica in Dalton GA in December. If anyone is familiar with this community I would love any advice on what to prepare for at the interview.

Jamila, how did your other interviews go?

ok

I was doing find until my husband called me on the way and told me that I was running late. I confused the daylight savings time so I was an hour late for my interview. During the interview I was nervious so I felt as though I could have done much better. However Life Care centers is a wonderful company. The lady that interviewed me was very nice, although she began asking questions rather quickly. She stated that if I did not get the position in Knoxville they will be hiring in the Chattanooga area next year. Which would be great becuase I would not have to relocate. I know one way or another I will be an administrator somewhere. I plan on applying and applying and applying until I get in somewhere. It might take some time but I will not give up. Once I am in than the real work begins. Thanks for your encouragement, Susan.

Thanks for asking Courtney

Jamila in Chattanooga, Tennessee said: ok

I was doing find until my husband called me on the way and told me that I was running late. I confused the daylight savings time so I was an hour late for my interview. During the interview I was nervious so I felt as though I could have done much better. However Life Care centers is a wonderful company. The lady that interviewed me was very nice, although she began asking questions rather quickly. She stated that if I did not get the position in Knoxville they will be hiring in the Chattanooga area next year. Which would be great becuase I would not have to relocate. I know one way or another I will be an administrator somewhere. I plan on applying and applying and applying until I get in somewhere. It might take some time but I will not give up. Once I am in than the real work begins.

Well, I had my interview and was offered the position before I left the building!! I am so excited. However, the HR guy gave me such a hard time because I "didn't have experience running a facility". Well, you said "0-1 years experience, must be able to retain lincensure within 6 months". Gosh, how much experience were ya looking for with a statement like that? Anyway, I snaged the position and I'm really excited!!! It's an ALF, but I get to learn so much! Let me know if you have questions reqarding interviewing.

Just be yourself and remember everything you said that you knew or did that was in your resume and cover letter

I will be graduating at NYU-Health Care Management (Long Term Care) in April. I am over 40, live in NYC, and worried about my job prospects after reading all your comments. I have no experience in this field and pretty much will start from the bottom. I worked at office jobs before but I am really interested in working with our aging population and willing to train if someone will give me an opportunity. Most of you are very well educated, experienced and have been in the industry for a long time and yet you are having problems finding positions. How much more a recent graduate with no experience can even get a job in Long Term Care? I am thinking of enrolling in a Nursing Degree since there is a 15-month accelerated Nursing program at NYU, however, I am worried that by the time I graduate, I will be over 45 and no facility might even take me....Any advise you can share? I would really appreciate it.

Hey I'm 62 and I'm in there trying. But I'm not sure a nursing degree will help. Think of all those nursing wanna bes who aspire to administration , I say save your money and work with what you have. Two masters degrees don't seem to work either. In reality its a supply and demand issue. When the experienced people get done trading jobs wtih each other maybe we'll be seen as attaractiv.e

Do not worry. I have an associates degree in nursing. I have 12 yrs experience in LTC. I just received my LTC license in June 07. I accepted a job last month as a LTC administrator. This facility also has assisted living, therefore, I will have to receive my ASL. The only problem with this facility is it is a troubled facility that DHEC was going to close down. I had to take a pay cut to get this job. But I look at it this way. I will receive the experience I need and will help this facility from not closing down. This facility is in the country and these residents do not have anywhere else to go. So, I am willing to give it my very best effort for them as well as myself. They are alot of jobs out there, just don't give up, keep looking. Good Luck,
Tammy

If you are looking at potential lifetime earnings and retirement dollars, you might strongly consider getting the RN Degree...the DON in a Nursing Home earns almost as much as the Administrator, and Nurses are in great demand.

Tammy I am so glad to see an LVN taking on a position such as Administrator. I am a 10 year LVN my self and will graduating in Dec. with a Health Professions Degree,can you tell me what I need to do for the next step into administration.

Jamila in Chattanooga, Tennessee said: Hi Courtney,

Have you tried NHC, national healthcare, in Murfreesboro TN. Chris West is the person that interviews the AITs. It is a two year program however you must be willing to relocate anywhere in the US. Here is the website with more information on it, www.nhccare.com/jobs.cfm
Good Luck and I hope you this works out for you.

Do you know of any place like this in Texas?

Life Care centers of America may have a facility in TX. Here is the website www.lcca.com/empl_admin.cfm

Good Luck

I would just suggest that you sign up with all of the job sites like Indeed. I sent my resume and cover letter to every facility that came up even when I new I did not met the qualification. I received alot of thank you for applying letters but I continued to apply. Then in one week, I received 3 job interviews all at the same time. With your new degree and LTC experience, you should have no problem finding a position. Are you willing to relocate? All employers will ask you that question. If you reply no you will not hear from them again. I suggest if you are not willing to relocate that you apply to nursing homes in your area. It will take awhile, so cool the jets and be willing to sit on the launching pad for awhile. Best of luck and let me know how everything turns out.

I do agree with you with getting your RN degree. I just accepted a job as an administrator and I took a pay cut so I could get experience as an administrator.

Tammy, Congratulations on your new job! I am sure that the pay cut is painful, but I know that you will be very successful as an administrator and your pay will be back where it should be very soon.

Whatever you do, don't give up. I am 39 years old. I was an Executive Assistant in most of my working life, but I've always worked in Administration in the hospital environment or some other capacity in the health care industry. I decided to go back to school and get my bachelor's in business at a major university here that had classes for working adults. I finished within two years and then went for my masters in Gerontology at another major university that also had classes for working adults. I finished within two years of that. I graduated in May 06 and right afterwards, was offered a Facility Surveyor position with the state (surveying nursing homes) about 240 miles away, which I couldn't take due to parental visitations issues. Since then I searched and searched for an opportunity, but everything in long-term care that I wanted to do preferred a degree in social services. I was about to just say forget it and go back to get my MSW, but lo and behold, a opportunity came that will give me a chance to get in and learn. It's a assisted living facility, with 50 beds, and 17 employees under me, but its a start with my foot in the door. In Missouri, even ALF administrators need their NHA license.

Don't give up. I will be 40 next year and I was not going to give up my dream. There are facilities out there who advertise they are willing to hire someone with a license or willing to get one after 6 months. That's how I got this one. I already have my license, which made it easier for me. I don't know about other cities or states, but I've seen quite a few of those in Missouri.

Good luck in your search and DON'T GIVE UP!!

Tammy, Congratulations on your new job! I am sure that the pay cut is painful, but I know that you will be very successful as an administrator and your pay will be back where it should be very soon.

Thank you so much Susan. Susan when I accepted the job, the administrator told me that this way a troubled facility. Then last week when the worst 54 list came out, my facility was on the list. I almost told him to forget it, but I thought if I can improve this facility then the resident will be better off and I can prove to myself that the pay cut was worth it.

Is it true that you can become a licensed nursing home adminstrator in Georgia without actually going through an AIT program? I have 14 years of long term care experience and am now interested in becoming an administrator.

I don't know about Georgia but I know you don't have to attend AIT in South Carolina.

What type of questions are asked at an AIT interview?

Hi Courtney I meant to write you sooner but my husband's father died and we were in Columbus GA for awhile. The interview went very well. He told me about the benefits and every in the interview. I think he would have offerd me the position however he told me that the regulations changed in GA so they have to review their faciliies to make sure they are all certified. The questions that he asked were basically about my mangement experiance, how I handled a conflict, if I have ever hired or fired someone. He also asked the condition of the facilities I worked in in the past. He was impressed that I did research on the company and speak with a former administrator and a current regional director. So now I am still looking however I have emailed my resume to UHS-Pruitt in Athens GA. I think they are looking for an assistant administrator but I thought I would apply anyway to see what happens. Well I hope everyone has a happy holiday if I do not write for awhile.

Hi. I am really enjoying this forum. Does anyway have any ideas for someone seeking to become a Nursing Home Administrator in Louisiana or Mississippi. I am awaiting on my application. AIT is difficult in this area, because it is so small. I am willing to relocate, however, I don't think I can afford to complete AIT without a income. ANy suggestions anyone. I do have a Bachelor of Science and several years of LTC. HELP.......

I am looking to relocate out of Columbus/Ohio asap- I have extensive experience in LTC sales,marketing , etc- I have passed both state and federal licensing exams 12/07- I would be happy to fax/email my resume if anyone knows of any opportunities! Thanks, sp

Life Care Centers of America is looking AITs in Palm Bay and New Port Richie, FL. Here is the website www.lcca.com/employment_admin.asp

Good Luck

Jamila,

I am sorry to hear about your father-in-law. My prayers go out to you and your family. Thanks for your response.

Courtney in Nashville, Tennessee said: Jamila,

I am sorry to hear about your father-in-law. My prayers go out to you and your family. Thanks for your response.

Thanks Courtney, that is very kind of you. My husband and I have been going back and forth from here to Columbus GA. We spent News Years with his mom and I think that helped her. How is your AIT search going? I know it seems slow now but something will turn up. I know that is how I feel sometimes but I will keep trying.

Hey there! Don't give up! Nursing Home Administrator is a Calling, not a job, and there is a higher power looking out for us all, and He works in His Own Time. I have had some interviews; the standout was where the DON had just quit, and it scared me so badly to be potentially new in the building, and having to find a new DON that I got really nervous and horribly blew the interview! (sigh...it happens to the best of us sometimes) I have met many wonderful people, and am still looking for the 'right fit.' Keep smiling, keep that resume handy, and go get 'em!

Well

Ethica emailed me for a third interview. But get this in Gray GA. SO with about a days notice I drive 3 1/2 hours to this interview. It was a group interview and it was not as scary as you might think. They seemed impressed by me and I was able to make them laugh a few times. Overall I believe I did well and my kids got a chance to spend some time with their grandparents, my parents, while I interviewed. They told me that they are still in the process of making sure their facilities are certified but will let me know as soon as possible. Therefore Susan I must thank you for your encouraging words.

Great! I am sure that your great positive attitude is showing during your interviews! There are allot of great companies out there looking for talented Administrators, and every one of them wants someone with a great attitude, a sense of humor, and dedication, all of which you have in abundance. We can all ount on our Higher Power to take care of you, you can do it! All of us in Long Term Care are counting so much on Him, and he never lets us down. Keep smiling, you will go a long way and before you know it, you will be called on and you will be right where He wants you to be, when He wants you to be there. No one is alone in the quest.

Everyone has great information to pass along! I have been in healthcare for 9 years and I am currently one of the casualties of the high unemployment rate that Michigan has become famous for. I have a BA in Healthcare Administration and am a school-trained neurology technologist. I am ready to start the last leg of my career goal and move into Long Term Care Administration. It looks like I am going to have to relocate. I am preparing to take the national exams. I need to get a job immediately and don't mind working my way up. Any advice is more than appreciated!

May in New York, New York said: I will be graduating at NYU-Health Care Management (Long Term Care) in April. I am over 40, live in NYC, and worried about my job prospects after reading all your comments. I have no experience in this field and pretty much will start from the bottom. I worked at office jobs before but I am really interested in working with our aging population and willing to train if someone will give me an opportunity. Most of you are very well educated, experienced and have been in the industry for a long time and yet you are having problems finding positions. How much more a recent graduate with no experience can even get a job in Long Term Care? I am thinking of enrolling in a Nursing Degree since there is a 15-month accelerated Nursing program at NYU, however, I am worried that by the time I graduate, I will be over 45 and no facility might even take me....Any advise you can share? I would really appreciate it.

Honey don't worry about any one taking you in the nursing industry especially as an R.N. or LPN they are in very high demand i am 42 will be finshed with my RN degree in 1 year and looking forward to all of the opportunities so take a chance and step out there it will be worth it

No Problemo! My husband (Best Husband in the World) is a nurse and was recently offered 7 jobs in one day, sight unseen...I am a Texan, and I say Aim High, if you aim lower out of fear or if you hesitate, you surely will hit what you are aimin' at and regret may become your constant companion. As far as finding work as an Administrator, it is absolutely imperitive that you fulfill your AIT hours with an Administrator at a facility that has an A++ reputation, because their reputation and their contacts (connections) will become yours as well. I have been looking around for a while for employment; I have a great non-healthcare job now, and am now, after months of looking around, about to receive the offer that I have been aiming at, it is in a good lively small town, working for a good company where they treat residents and employees with respect. I am also over 40 and I know that I have to be able to look myself in the eye every day and I must feel great about how I treat those that count on me, and great about how I treat those that I must count on daily. We Administrators have an awesome responsibility, but the payoff is awesome, we get to have the most rewarding work of anyone anywhere! BTW, all of my interviews have come from applications that I sent directly to the owners and corporate offices of the Nursing Homes, I found them on the internet; it takes a while for my application to get to the right desk, but once it gets there, I get an interview. When I talk to employers, they choose to interview me partly based upon the fact that I am a seasoned employee with a good reliable work history behind me. What ever you want to do, you can be successful, keep your chin up, don't get discouraged (the Devil loves a loser) you are looking to work in the big time now, think big, be big, come on along with us...we are all in this together!