Lindsey Knies has always been drawn to a career in health care. She wanted to make a difference in people’s lives and initially believed that becoming a nurse was the right way to do that. However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, she found herself questioning whether nursing was the best fit for her long-term goals.
“I originally started in the nursing program, but I realized it wasn’t the path I wanted to take,” Lindsey recalls. “I have always enjoyed the operations side of things, and when I met with my advisor, she told me about the health services management program. I immediately knew that was the direction I wanted to go.”
That one conversation changed the course of her career. Instead of focusing solely on patient care, Lindsey shifted her focus to the bigger picture—how healthcare facilities operate, how decisions are made, and how she could play a leadership role in ensuring high-quality care for patients and residents.
Lindsey graduated from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health in 2024 with a degree in health services management. As she neared graduation, she wasn’t entirely sure what her next step would be, but everything clicked when she took a long-term care course during her senior year.
“Going into my final year, I had no clue what I wanted to do,” she admits. “That semester, I took a long-term care class, and I fell in love with the idea of working in nursing communities and really forming connections with residents. That’s when I knew I wanted to work in senior living.”
With this newfound passion, Lindsey began searching for opportunities in the field. She applied to BHI Senior Living in February, interviewed in April, and was offered a position as an administrator in training (AIT). By June, she had already started her new role.
As an AIT, Lindsey is gaining hands-on experience in all aspects of senior living facility operations. She rotates between different BHI communities, learning how each department functions and how they work together to ensure the well-being of residents.
“My days are never the same,” she says. “I’ve worked with social services, nursing, activities, home health, finance, and maintenance. I’ll eventually learn marketing, human resources, dining, and more. Every day, I’m in a different building or department, but the most important thing is that I’m constantly learning and gaining new experiences.”
One of the most eye-opening moments of her post-graduate journey was earning her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) license. While many administrators in training focus on the business and operations side of health care, Lindsey wanted to gain first-hand experience of what it’s like to work directly with residents.
“The most significant thing that has happened since I graduated was obtaining my CNA license,” she says. “That experience allowed me to really connect with residents and understand just how challenging and important the job of a CNA is. It’s physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. I’m so grateful I had the chance to experience it firsthand because it has given me a deeper appreciation for the people who provide direct care every day.”
Looking back, Lindsey wishes she had known about the field of health care administration earlier in her college career.
“When you think about working in hospitals or health care, you usually only think about the doctors and nurses,” she explains. “You don’t often think about the people behind the scenes—the ones managing finances, coordinating services, or overseeing daily operations. I wish I had known more about those roles when I started college because I truly feel like health services management was the right major for me all along.”
She also reflects on the pressures she faced as a student, particularly in her senior year when she felt uncertain about her future.
“I was really stressed because I didn’t have a clear career path going into my final year,” she says. “But everything fell into place when I found long-term care. I wish I hadn’t stressed so much because I ended up exactly where I was meant to be; it just took a little longer to figure out than some of my peers.”
Another lesson she carries from her time at Fairbanks is the importance of continuous learning and taking risks.
“Hard work and passion will help you grow in your career,” she says. “You have to stay hungry, take opportunities that come your way, and push yourself outside of your comfort zone. No matter how intimidating something seems, you’ll never know if you’re capable of it unless you try.”
Lindsey is currently completing the required hours in her AIT program and preparing to take her state and federal exams to become a licensed healthcare facility administrator. But she doesn’t plan to stop there. Her goal is to continue her education and pursue a master’s degree in health administration.
“I want to continue growing in this field,” she says. “Long-term care is where I’ve found my passion, and I want to keep learning so I can be the best leader possible.”
For students who are unsure of their career path, Lindsey offers this advice: “Don’t stress too much about having everything figured out right away. You’ll find your path. It just might look a little different than you expected.”
Beyond her academic and professional journey, some of Lindsey’s best memories from college come from the friendships she formed along the way.
“My favorite college memories were the moments between classes when my friends and I would sit on campus and just talk,” she says. “We’d discuss our classes, homework, or whatever we needed to get off our chests. Those were the moments when I really felt like I had a community.”
Now, as she continues to build her career in senior living, she’s bringing that same sense of community to the residents she serves, ensuring they feel at home, valued, and cared for every step of the way.
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