Job Description of a Registered Nurse for an Elderly Care Facility
As the baby boomer population gets older, many elderly citizens will need medical care in an assistant living facility or nursing home community. These facilities employ registered nurses with unique backgrounds in elderly care. Registered nurses perform the typical duties of nurses found in hospitals, but nurses employed at an elderly care facility focus more on the practice of gerontology while helping to establish a manageable lifestyle for elderly residents.
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General Duties
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Registered nurses at elderly care facilities focus on helping elderly patients maintain a quality lifestyle through physical therapy, exercise, ensuring the proper medications and working with staff dietitians to create specialized diets. Registered nurses also consult with doctors concerning medications pertaining to the individuals in an elderly care facility. Registered nurses also chart the health activities of elderly individuals around the clock, and keep logs and records on the individuals. The registered nurse must also inform the families of the latest information regarding individuals in elderly care.
Skills
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Registered nurses must have oral and written communicative skills to deal with elderly care patients and other staff members. As the saying goes, “patience is a virtue,” and registered nurses working in this environment must have patience with the elderly. At times, the environment can be stressful because of the demands of patients who can become depressed because of their ailments or conditions. The registered nurse must maintain a friendly disposition at all times.
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Work Environment
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The work environment of a registered nurse at an elderly care facility typically involves shift work, overtime and on-call duty. The normal work week consist of 40 hours, but due to circumstances with patients, the normal workday can go beyond the average of eight hours. It is also the registered nurse’s responsibility to ensure patient areas are clean.
Salary
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According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for registered nurses in nursing care facilities is expected to increase 25 percent between 2008 and 2018. This is due to an aging baby boomer population. The median income for registered nurses in this field as of May 2008 was $57,060, according to the BLS.
Educational Requirements
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To gain employment in a nursing home facility as a registered nurse, an individual must earn a BS or BA degree from a college or university. There are also vocational programs that award associate degrees or certificates of training. Registered nurses must also meet requirements for licensing in the state in which they are seeking employment.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit nurse on duty image by Pix by Marti from Fotolia.com
