Senior care facilities offer unique opportunities for skill development and career advancement. No matter where you are in your education or training, there’s likely a position that fits your skill set. To see if you might be a good fit, here are some workplace traits that are important for working in a nursing home:
1. You’re interested in pharmacology.
A major aspect of nursing home care is administering medication. Many residents are on strict medication schedules for multiple prescriptions. If you’re interested in pharmacology – the branch of science that studies how drugs work in the body – you’ll have lots of opportunities to learn more on the topic while working at a nursing home.
2. You’re flexible.
On any given day, a resident’s health might take a steep decline, a new patient with a demanding care schedule could be admitted, or a resident could take a fall during ambulation. Staff need to be able to respond quickly and efficiently in order to keep patients safe and healthy. If you’re adaptable and quick-thinking, you’ll likely excel at a nursing home.
3. You’re a team player.
Because of the sometimes stressful, emotionally demanding nature of nursing home labor, it’s critical that staff can rely on each other on challenging days. If you prefer to have close, interdependent relationships with your coworkers, you’ll probably enjoy this type of work. Also, you’ll often be caring for the same patients for long stretches of time, so it’s important that you can work closely with your coworkers to develop the best care plan for your residents.
4. You’re compassionate.
Residents may be dealing with chronic illness, memory loss, mobility issues, and other physically and emotionally taxing health issues. It’s important that their caretakers are patient, empathetic, and determined to provide them with the best care possible to maximize their quality of life. If you find it easy to relate to patients and are passionate about making their remaining years as fulfilling as possible, you’ll likely find this type of work very gratifying.
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