Originally graduating with a major in Health Services management from IUPUI in May 2020, Morgan Branning enrolled at USI to earn her MBA. While attending USI, Branning was one of the first students to complete USI’s Administrator-In-Training (AIT) certification courses in February 2022. In this issue of the bOLDer Bulletin, she discusses her decision to become AIT certified and her experiences as an administrator at Bethel Manor.
When asked about her choice to become an administrator, Branning cited an administrator she worked with as being a key influence in her decision. While working as a CNA, the administrator she worked with suggested she look into the AIT certification process. Branning had a passion for the health professions, particularly long-term care, and she decided earning her AIT certificate would be the right path for her career. She decided to earn her certificate from USI, stating USI was the only school that offered both an AIT certification program and undergraduate gerontology courses.
To become AIT certified, students are required to complete 1,040 hours of training, after which they are expected to take a test. The process normally takes at least six months to complete, with some candidates needing to take a year to complete the program. After earning an AIT certificate, students may then begin to work towards becoming an administrator of a long-term care facility.
Branning’s duties include overseeing day-to-day operations, following procedures and making sure the facility runs as smoothly as possible. However, there is no such thing as a typical day, leading to new opportunities and experiences. She enjoys being an administrator and says that her favorite parts of the job are the residents and doing things to make them happy. She also says her floor team is very supportive of one another.
When asked what advice she would give to people who are thinking of becoming AIT certified, Branning emphasized the importance of being aware of the current state of health care. While she loves being an administrator and encourages anybody who has the drive to be an administrator to pursue it, she also wants people to be aware that going into health care is very challenging, and that is something one should consider when deciding to become an administrator.
