Developing the next generation of leadership in skilled nursing communities continues to vex the industry as the next generation of leaders are finding it increasingly difficult to find placement for Administrator in Training (AIT) roles. Experts caution that the sector needs to make opportunities more welcoming to candidates looking to learn the ropes of skilled nursing administration.
Administrator-in-training programs have long been considered an important pathway to connect with graduating college students, internal candidates and career changers and help them to gain a deep understanding of how to manage a building’s clinical, operational, financial, and regulatory requirements. Yet, barriers persist, in recent years, connecting the right AIT candidate with the best training location. Long-term care leaders cite a myriad of issues hindering the placement of AIT candidates including state policies, a lack of preceptors and distance to rural training sites. Many observers also cited cost as a barrier to nursing homes seeking out an administrator in training, even among some facilities that expect a leadership transition.
The 2023-24 Nursing Home Salary & Benefits survey by HCS revealed 14.51% of providers reported top-level or executive vacancies earlier this year. There is also a 28% turnover rate in the administrator ranks, and nearly 35% said they expected turnover to increase this year.
LeadingAge Pennsylvania is tackling this issue head on and recently awarded Baptist Senior Family a $50,000 grant to support their work ensuring a vibrant and meaningful AIT experiences for one of their emerging leaders. Baptist Senior Family President and CEO Tim Myers said about the program, “it allows us to have a much wider scope of experiences and education that perhaps we wouldn’t have been able to do on our own.”
