Specialty Requirements
- Degree
- Associate's Degree in Nursing
- Certifications
- Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Some facilities may require Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Characteristics
- Empathetic
- Compassionate
- Respectful
- Effective Communicator
- Multi-Tasker
- Critical Thinker
A Day in the Life
- Depending on the facility, nurses either work eight hour shifts or 12 hour shifts.
- Patient Population
- Many residents are in a nursing home facility because they aren't able to care for themselves independently at home, have chronic illnesses, or have had a injuries that require extra assistance.
- Job Responsibilities
- Assessments, vital signs, medication administration, fall prevention, discussing sleep cycles, wound care, collaborate with interdisciplinary professionals, patient and family education, assist with grooming/bathing/feeding/walking, etc.
- Common Medications
- Hydrocodone-Acetaminophen, Simvastatin, Lisinopril, Levothyroxine, Amlodipine, Besylate, Omeprazole, Azithromycin, Amoxicillin, Metformin, etc.
- Common Diagnoses
- Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Arthritis, COPD, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, Parkinson's disease, dementia, bed sores, etc.
Knowledge Expansion