Individuals working in a nursing home will have a great deal of job responsibilities. The majority of assisted living positions require that you possess a certified nursing license or certificate. Many places of employment will provide classes for individuals who have not yet obtained their certified nurse's assistant license or certificate for free in order to prepare them for the job. Working in a nursing home requires frequent interaction with senior citizens and assisting them with all of their daily living requirements.
Seniors who have become ill with diseases such as dementia, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's are common residents of nursing home facilities. It is extremely important that if you are interested in a nursing home job that you can easily picture yourself taking out the time to care for older, sick, individuals. You must be able to display a natural sense of compassion and sympathy toward your patient's, as many of them will not have anyone to talk to or depend on. Many senior citizen's are placed in nursing home facilities by their family members and are no longer cared for. There are quite a few who also never receive visits from neither friends nor family.
When looking for an assisted living job keep in mind that you may also have to provide direct care the residents living at the facility. The care provided may include assisting with visits to and from the restroom, providing baths, making beds, taking temperatures, checking blood pressure, providing medication (only if authorized by the head nurse or doctor), changing bed pans, relieving bed sores, etc. Many of the patients you deal with on a daily basis may become very difficult, so it is necessary to have a great deal of patience.
There is a good chance that you already have your eye on a particular retirement home job. Before you apply, you might want to take into consideration the hours you are available for work. Most nursing home facilities require that you work at least 12 hours per shift. Some facilities may also provide the option of working weekend shifts, part-time, and/or full-time. Fortunately, you can usually make your choice before getting hired.
A lot of nursing home job positions will not hire you if you do not have prior experience. Also, if you have a criminal record with theft or violent crimes that have not been expunged, there is a chance that you may not be considered. Looking for an assisted living job is a huge decision. This type of job is clearly not for everyone. If you have problems dealing with sick people or an "easy stomach", then it may be in your best interests to consider a different profession. The pay for individuals who are interested in a retirement home position is also not considered the highest. Most certified nursing assistants average around $12.00 to $14.00 per hour, with $14.00 per hour being very high and rare. The majority of nursing home positions for newbies will start off at minimum wage.
You have a lot of options when it comes to finding the perfect nursing home job. If you are certain that this is a career you would like to embark upon, then you may first want to consider finding out what is available in your local area. Because you may not be completely aware of all opportunities, you might also want to search the internet for an assisted living job as well. Websites such as HealthcareCrossing.com and others similar to it will provide you with a complete list of nursing home job opportunities. There is also the option of searching through your local newspaper for a retirement home job. All in all, working in a nursing home is an excellent choice for anyone who considers themselves a valuable asset to the healthcare field.
