Professional Career Action Plan

Professional Career Action Plan

HCS 449

Elizabeth Jones

September 10, 2012

Rhonda Green

Professional Career Action Plan

Creating a professional career action plan will compose attainable goals and design a step-by-step plan to achieve important professional goals. It is important to have a roadmap that will guide anyone from beginning to end for successful goal attainment. My action plan summarizes my professional goals and my career goal of becoming a health care administrator in a hospital or a physician's office. I will assess the skills currently obtained and the skills that need altering to improve my chances of reaching my career goals. My action plan will also show the steps required to reach my career goals and a timeline to complete each one. Achieving my goals will require focus and motivation to follow the professional plan to the final attainment of my career goals (University of Phoenix, n.d).

After assessing my professional goals it became evident that working in health care management in any health care facility is my career goal but prefer a career in a hospital or a private care health care office. I want to obtain experience in the health care field and focus on attaining my ultimate career goals. Becoming a health care administrator requires many steps to reach my goal of a position in a health care facility. The first step is to continue my education and achieve my master's degree and a commitment to professional development. While working on my education it is important to obtain experience as a health care manager. This can be accomplished by networking, job searches, volunteering, an internship, or job shadowing. Another source is The American College of Healthcare Executives offers an opportunity for networking and information sharing. When considering the many issues in health care an organization such as the American College of Healthcare Executives foundation founded to be health care leaders of hospitals, hospital, and healthcare organizations. The American College of Healthcare Executives will assist individuals in making a positive and informed decision about a career as a heath care administrator by providing resources such as career services, continuing education, and resume services, which will assist in my career goals (American College of Healthcare Executive, 2008).

Health administrators are responsible for managing a health care facility by ensuring the medical staff always provides optimal patient care and that the facility is complying with regulations set by the government and the Joint Commission. Health administrators are also responsible for budgeting; overseeing medical purchasing and delivery, interviewing, and hiring staff. They are also attentive to detail, and educating the local community on what services are offered at the health care facility and also organizing health fairs in the community (Cole, 1998). As a health administrator I will be successful if my focus is on running the health care facility like a business because the success of a business is dependent on good management skills and will attest to me success as a health administrator. Today with the certain uncertainty of the economy it is imperative that as a health administrator I must evaluate practices at the health care facility and eliminate the less profitable services and strengthen programs of major health importance (Current Preoccupations of Health Officers, 2011).

Health administrators possess effective leadership skills, strong people skills, organized, and have health care knowledge. I choose to obtain my degree as a health administrator because of my organization skills, natural leadership qualities, effective communication abilities, writing abilities, and my exceptional problem-solving ability but these qualities are just the tip of the skills required to be a health administrator. I have discovered that ultimately reaching my goal of working as a hospital administrator requires more experience and extensive education. Because I lack experience I went to the local hospital and spoke with the Chief Executive Officer to inquire about internships and it was suggested that I job shadow an assistant health administrator and when a position becomes available I would receive first consideration. A successful health administrator will possess strong managerial skills and a master's