Home » Nursing Resources » Nurse Jackie » Healthcare Administrator

Fact or Fiction: Gloria Akalitus as a Hospital Administrator

Edie Falco, who portrayed Carmela Soprano is HBO's The Sopranos, has crossed networks. Now responsible for one of Showtime's biggest hits, Nurse Jackie, Falco doesn't quite conform to the Nursing Code of Ethics; Jackie doesn't believe in following the rules, she believes in saving lives.

Photo credit: The Internet Movie Database

Nurse Jackie is home to The West Wing's Anna Deavere Smith as Gloria Akalitus, a nurse-turned-hospital administrator. Akalitus is the butt of many a joke in the show, getting giddy off of Jackie's Percocet-laced coffee, accidentally tazering herself in an elevator, and questioning a gay nurse about how to obtain adoption papers for a child left at a nursing station.

Where lies the line between fact and fiction in the characterization of this hospital administrator? Frankly, the line zig-zags. The hospital administrator is responsible for keeping the hospital a well-oiled machine. But in a dark comedy like Nurse Jackie, Akalitus is a walking punch line, providing a much needed dose of laughter amidst so much darkness. However, if her employees behaved themselves, Akalitus would most likely seem like an average nursing supervisor.

In one notable episode, Akalitus urges Jackie Peyton to make a dying man vacate a bed due to overcrowding. Jackie engages Akalitus' more compassionate side by asking her to see the man not as an insurance payer but as a dying man. Akalitus allows Jackie until the end of the day to find him another place to stay, because she realizes that he'll be dying soon.

This aspect of Akalitus' character may be legitimate. This makes sense, as it is plausible that a nurse could be promoted. Many hospital administrators started their healthcare career after completing a nursing degree with specific interest in administration. However, it's not a simple jump from nurse to administrator. Masters degrees in Health Services Administration, Public Administration or Business Administration are among the prerequisites for the position. Hospital administrators with financial backgrounds may go on to become Chief Financial Officers or Chief Executive Officers.

Education includes a year of interning in a health care center, and most administrators begin as administrative assistants for large hospitals, before pursuing higher positions in smaller institutions. Therefore, it's unlikely that Akalitus would be working alongside her former peers, as she probably would have needed to move elsewhere to find a position.

In another episode, Akalitus stays late to oversee Jackie making the time schedules, having noted that she always seems to be working with friends. The hospital administrator is charged with responsibility for the budget. The hospital administrator would be responsible for the schedule of the nurses being overseen.

Finally, Gloria Akalitus appears to work alone. This is definitely true. Small hospitals generally don't need more than one hospital administrator, but large hospitals may need at least one in every department. All Saints, the fictional hospital at which Nurse Jackie works, comes across as a large hospital. As a result, it would be common for a health care administrator to oversee the entire department alone.

You can make a difference in the field of health care with an advanced nursing degree. Take your time to learn about the nursing programs offered by the accredited online nursing schools below and request a free information pack from the schools that interest you.

University of Phoenix Nursing

Join over 100,000 working professionals and get your degree from the University Of Phoenix Online. A well-respected degree from the University of Phoenix is the first step in you meeting your career goals.

Walden University Nursing

Walden University, an accredited institution, offers advanced degrees online to professionals who work to advance their careers as well as the greater good. Degree programs include management, education, health and human services, and psychology. Our rigorous programs are designed to help students make a difference in the lives of children, the health of communities or the success of an organization.

RN to MSN Online - Leadership & Management
Nurse Educator - Master's Degree
Master's in Nursing (RN - MSN)
Master of Public Health - Community Health
Ph.D. in Public Health

Kaplan University Nursing

Kaplan University accelerated nursing programs can be completed in 18 months of online self-study. The pace is up to you - Attend class anytime, anywhere, 24/7. No campus attendance is required.

Nurse Jackie

Fact or Fiction: Gloria Akalitus as a Hospital Administrator

University of Phoenix Nursing

Walden University Nursing

Kaplan University Nursing

More Online Nursing Degree Articles