May 14th through the 20th is National Skilled Nursing Care Week 2023, a time to celebrate the important work done in the nation’s many skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Anyone who’s worked in a nursing home or other long-term care facility knows that it can be a challenging job. For many of the nurses who work in nursing care centers, though, it’s also very rewarding.
If you’re a nurse looking to take your career in new directions, or just seeking new opportunities, here’s what you should know about working jobs in skilled nursing facilities!
What is Skilled Nursing Care Week?
Since 1967, the American Health Care Association (AHCA) has used Skilled Nursing Care Week as an opportunity to raise awareness of this important work. This year’s theme is “Cultivating Kindness,” which is “inspired by the many acts of kindness that happen in skilled nursing care centers every day.”
At a time when many of them are struggling to find the nurses they need, that’s a goal that matters more than ever. That’s why the American Health Care Association celebrates that work every year with National Skilled Nursing Care Week.
Jobs in Skilled Nursing Facilities: What to Expect
For nurses who are new to skilled nursing, just what is a “SNF?” Additionally, what’s the benefit of working jobs in skilled nursing facilities?
Part of an industry called “long-term care” (or LTC), skilled nursing facilities are similar to nursing homes, but they’re not quite the same thing. Skilled nursing facilities are places where senior citizens and people with disabilities receive 24/7 clinical care. Those who stay in SNFs often have serious illness or chronic conditions. Therefore, they may need closer watching than people in a standard nursing home.
> Pro tip: If you’re a nurse looking to transition to social work, therapy or another related job, skilled nursing facilities can be a great place to do so!
People who stay in SNFs usually come from the hospital. So, they’re not always there permanently, but sometimes just to recover. Offering follow-up care after surgery or injury, SNFs employ not just nurses, but also many other types of clinical workers. Physical and occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists (SLPs), social workers and direct support specialists are just a few.
The Day-to-Day Life of a Skilled Nursing Professional
Because SNF care covers so many different types of patients, jobs in skilled nursing facilities can have a lot of variety. Some jobs may focus on patients with chronic conditions, or who are dealing with stroke, cancer or respiratory illness. Others may deal with patients with Alzheimer’s or other mental conditions. Often, nurses working in SNFs will work with many different types of conditions.
Yet no matter what the condition, much of the care is basically the same. Nurses working in SNFs will often be responsible for offering 24/7 care and close supervision to patients who need it. They’ll also have to help look after medications, as well as manage the meals and personal hygiene of the residents under their care.
> Pro tip: Remember, people in nursing facilities are called “residents,” not patients!
Why Work Jobs in Skilled Nursing Facilities?
Why have so many have dedicated their lives to working in SNFs? The residents in these facilities usually need care they can’t get anywhere else. It’s a level of treatment they can’t get from their families. So, many nurses see it as an important way to help some of the people who are most in need.
> Pro tip: Skilled nursing isn’t a primary specialty for nurses, but a setting they work in. That means there’s demand for nurses with certain talents and experience. For instance, a quick look at the available jobs in skilled nursing facilities from CareerStaff shows demand for nurses and CNAs with skills in med tech, psychology and developmental disabilities.
Jobs in Skilled Nursing Facilities: How to Qualify
It’s important to also remember that SNFs are always in need of LPNs, RNs and CNAs for general care. Therefore, you don’t have to have a highly developed specialty to apply. What you should have is knowledge of basic clinical procedures, and the ability to work well with residents and other workers. It also helps to be organized, and a good communicator!
Working in SNFs also helps develop important skills, like managing medication and understanding care regulations. So, they’re a great place to build experience that will be useful in other settings, too. Some jobs in skilled nursing facilities require six months of experience. However, many others are open to new workers, making them a good choice for nurses and aides just starting out in their careers.
> Pro tip: We’re hiring! What better way to celebrate Skilled Nursing Care Week than with a new job? Browse all of our SNF jobs here to find your next career opportunity.
Celebrate National Skilled Nursing Care Week with a New Skilled Nursing Job!
Happy National Skilled Nursing Care Week from CareerStaff! It’s clear that the work done in SNFs and other long-term care facilities is extremely important. If you’re a nursing professional interested in joining the cause, we have jobs in skilled nursing facilities all across the United States.
As one of the country’s leading nurse staffing and recruitment companies, you can trust CareerStaff to connect you with a job that matches your skills and preferences. Find out for yourself why CareerStaff’s recruiters are considered the best in the business. You can search all of our SNF jobs here, or fill out a quick online application now!