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Demetrius Burns

Career Guide: Working as a Nurse in a Nursing Home

Nurse Types / Nursing Home Nurse

With an ever-increasing older population, nursing homes are becoming the new norm for taking care of aging people. These care homes ensure their residents are getting good medical and personal care, as well as support. 

A nursing home hires several professionals to maintain the quality of its health care services. Qualified nurses, especially geriatric nurses, are key staff members at a nursing care facility. This career choice can be very rewarding as you will be able to work closely with patients and get to know them on a personal level.

In this article, we will explore:

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Working in a nursing home

Nursing homes hire nurses with multiple levels of credentials depending upon the requirements of their residents. Like any other healthcare facility, registered nurses (RNs) are the most familiar faces of nursing care staff. RNs are usually assisted by licensed practical nurses (LPNs) and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) in delivering health services to nursing home residents. 

Some nursing homes also include nurse practitioners (NPs) in their medical staff. NPs have more expertise and are able to make diagnoses and prescribe medication.

Pros and cons of working in a nursing home

Like any other nursing job, working in a nursing care facility has benefits and drawbacks.

Pros Cons
Enhanced collaborationTough routine
Stable and secure jobLower average salary
Variety of nursing assignmentsLess competitive workspace as compared to a hospital
Improve pharmacology skillsVery concentrated specialty
Learn from the life experiences of your patientsSome older adults might be uncooperative

Salaries of nursing home RNs

A nursing home typically pays an average wage of $65,215 per year. The average salary offered by nursing care facilities also depends on the city and state in which they are operating. 

Nursing homes offer a reasonable salary to nurses with more experience. The average hourly wage of nurses working in a nursing care facility increases as they advance to higher positions.

Duties of nurses in nursing homes

Responsibilities depend largely on the role in the facility. Some of the typical nursing duties in a nursing home include:

  • Initiating treatment plans
  • Checking medication routine
  • Taking vital signs
  • Giving injections
  • Applying bandages and dressings
  • Drawing blood
  • Setting up IV insertion

A registered nurse is often given the role of Charge Nurse in an elderly care facility. They have to monitor residents and supervise junior staff simultaneously. They also remain in touch with the families of residents and keep them updated about the health condition of their loved ones.

LPNs and CNAs perform the nursing assignments given by the charge nurse. LPNs are often responsible for direct bedside care of residents while CNAs assist them. They take care of the patients’ diets and hygiene. These nurses also help patients with walking, moving out of bed, or getting into a more comfortable position. RNs may also be floor nurses as well that work beside care.

Skills needed to work in a nursing home

Nurses working in a nursing care facility carry out routine care for older adults. These facilities prefer RNs with geriatric nursing specialties. Apart from basic health care expertise, nurses working in nursing homes should possess various social skills and consider the sensitive nature of care in their job.

Here is a summary of five essential traits for nurses working in a nursing home:

1. Effective interpersonal communication

As a nursing home worker, you must be able to connect with your patients. You should focus on building trust and rapport with facility residents as well as their families. 

Some older people may find it difficult to approach nursing home workers because of various communication barriers. These barriers could include impaired hearing, loss of sight, and cognitive impairments. You can overcome these issues by allowing extra time to listen, interpret, and speak during all interactions.

Effective interpersonal communication skills require observational ability. You can identify the problems of your patients such as pain, illness, or mood swings by keenly observing their body language.

2. Patience and compassion

Patience is the key to delivering high-quality care. Aging people may refuse to cooperate with nursing staff. They may not follow their medicine routine or skip meals from time to time. This is due to a variety of reasons such as frustration or cognitive impairments. 

You can help such situations by having patience and compassion toward sensitive older adults. Greeting older people with empathy and warmth helps them in adapting to their new routine. In this way, residents can establish a trusting relationship with you.

3. Teamwork and collaboration 

As a nursing home employee, you should try to work as a collaborative group to ensure high-quality care. Working with fellow nursing staff to deliver excellent health care is the crucial duty of a nurse.

You will also work closely with staff with other specialties, collaborating with various professionals. These include health care providers, PT/OT, psychiatrists, dietitians, music therapists, and social workers. You will join forces to maintain the physical and mental well-being and health of the residents.

4. Planning and execution

As an RN, you are in charge of implementing the health care plan of your residents. You ensure they are taking their medications properly and on time and providing them with their routine medical treatment. It is also your responsibility to make sure the current plan of each resident is in accordance with their medical requirements.

5. Problem-solving and decision-making

As a nurse working in a nursing care facility, you should have the ability to notice any abnormal change in the vital signs of a resident. You need to consult the charge nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician immediately whenever you notice a change. 

You might have to make some bold clinical decisions to stabilize a critical patient. That is why nurses who have a geriatric nursing specialty and other basic skills related to older adult care are best suited for nursing home jobs. Some basic care specialties include acute care, basic life support, wound care, and advanced cardiac life support.

Conclusion: Should you start working in a nursing home?

In a nutshell, working as a geriatric care nurse is a relatively tough job. Older adults require special care, and you will need a lot of patience and stamina to work with them. Working in this type of facility can foster long-term relationships with both residents and staff. That said, you should keep the demanding nature of a nursing home job in mind before choosing to start working in a nursing care facility.

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Sources

Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

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Reviewed by Pooja Sharma, RN

Pooja is the central team scheduler here at Incredible Health! She is also a registered nurse with a background in Rehabilitation, Geriatrics, and Public Health. 

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Sheila Antrum: Connecting to Care | How Integrity, Grit, and Kindness Helped One Nurse Become a Leader

My eyes scan the room as beeps, coughs, and yawns coalesce into a cacophony orbiting and collapsing my eardrums. The stethoscope around my neck feels tight. My blue scrubs stick to my skin like a mummy’s bandages. The lights strangle my eyes. My stomach flips. 

It’s 7 a.m. and I’ve paced these corridors, which feel like catacombs, for 12 hours straight. No breaks, no smiles, no supplies. I run my hands through my hair wondering how to make this work. 

I hear the screech of the cleaning lady’s wheels and usually this annoys me. However, this time I have an idea. 

I ask her to meet me in the breakroom. 

In the break room, I offer Julie $5 each day if she steals supplies from the Med-Surg unit. I feel queasy about stealing, but I don’t have many options. I’m in charge of the unit and we had run out of supplies and couldn’t get more. 

This arrangement works for about 5 days. But I realize that I will go broke from this method and eventually someone will find out. 

So, I call hospital administration. I tell him I’ll call 60 Minutes if he doesn’t give us some supplies. Two hours later we have supplies: bandages, gloves, gauze, and tape that could last us a couple weeks. The administrator is taken aback by my bravado and pulls me aside. 

“So, you’re serious about getting these patients help. I could see this role is stressing you out. How can I help you?”

“I don’t know. I’m tired and confused and I don’t really know if I can keep this up.”

“Well, you certainly have a passion. Would you ever consider getting into management?”

I didn’t incorporate his feedback until much later and after I moved to San Francisco and took a ICU staff nurse position at UCSF. 

Helen Ripple, Chief Nursing Officer at UCSF,  instructed me to go back to school. She wanted me to get management training and not practice from the seat of my pants. 

In leadership and management, there’s a need to be prepared. I was good at technical skills, but that doesn’t mean I was great at managing people.

I felt like I had PTSD from my Johns Hopkins experience. I went back to ‘nope, didn’t want to do this.’ The chief nursing officer said if I wanted to move to management I would have to get an advanced degree. 

The thought seemed bizarre at first. However, given the fact that nursing wasn’t even my first choice as a job, I was definitely willing to try something new. But I was hesitant. It took over 9 years to decide that I was ready to leave the bedside and pursue a management job. 

Antrum grew up in Connecticut. Her mom died when she was young and her brother-in-law and sister took her and her brother in.  Growing up, the people who influenced her the most were her sister and brother-in-law. She was a nurse and he was vice president of a bank. Her brother-in-law taught her the skill of listening and preached the value of keeping your word. These two lessons would never leave Antrum. 

Her sister taught her the value of patient care and the overall value of nursing. She started as a dietary aide and went on to be a LVN then became a registered nurse. The fact that her sister was a dialysis and infection-control nurse demonstrated to Antrum that nurses could do other things besides patient care at the bedside. 

Antrum originally wanted to attend UCLA after high school. Yet, her relatives felt that it was too far. One of Antrum’s childhood friends convinced her to apply to the Hampton Institute, a historically black university. She did her research on the school and felt excited about the idea of going there. 

She applied and got accepted. Her friend did not.  Antrum wanted her friend to take her place and she called admissions. Antrum explained, “She’s going to take my spot ’cause I’m not going to go… and so the admissions officer said, ‘ma’am, that’s not how it works.’”

Antrum ended up going, and it changed her life. She gained lifelong friends from the school. To this day, they remind her of who she is and that she’s good. Also, they made her laugh. 

“And they give me the perspective that I’m a good person,” said Antrum. “I think my friends are honest, but they are also the ones that cheer me on. They say, ‘You can do it. We’re really proud of you.’ And I think for people of color, we need people to tell us that.”

While in school, Antrum originally enrolled in the mass media department with an aspiration to become a camerawoman. With a camera, she could watch the emotions and stories of people unfold before her eyes through her lens. However, the department emphasized journalism, and Antrum felt that journalism was a bit too intrusive for her. So, she switched to nursing where she could continue connecting with others. 

She was an okay nursing student. She went along with the classes, but her revelation happened a bit later. 

“So I was an OK student and it was only when I started going to the hospital and actually touching patients and working with people did I realize–wow. There’s something to be said about coming home and saying ‘ I made somebody feel a little better,’” she said. 

It’s this connection in a physical sense that spoke to her.  “In medicine, we can help heal and care but we can’t always cure,” Antrum said. “People need that just as much as being cured. To know that somebody can hold their hand. It came across so clearly in COVID-19. When people were dying, nurses would go in and hold the patient’s hand to make sure that they weren’t dying alone. The gift of touch is so important. I loved giving patient’s backrubs. The skin is the biggest organ in our body. You can feel heat. You can see the sweat. You can see if they are in pain. That’s the beauty of nursing,” said Antrum. 

However, nursing wasn’t without its challenges. Antrum remembers one time when a black patient asked her a question about a condition she had. Antrum answered. Then, a white nurse came in and she heard the patient ask the nurse the same question. 

Antrum broke down crying. It hurt her that her word wasn’t seen as valuable as the other nurse’s. As Antrum puts it, “We too have to be better at trusting our own people who are in the medical profession, and so I think that’s important. And then finally, on the other side of this is hope, right?” 

“When I talk about hope it’s on two levels. Hope that the information that you’re being provided you can understand and comply with,” she said. “On that level I hope that people of color who come to receive healthcare understand and are getting all the information they need to take care of themselves. Also, we can be a very patriarchal profession, meaning ‘we know best and you don’t.’ There are times when I want to go in one direction and they want to go in another.” 

After graduating with her nursing degree, Antrum wanted to move to Saudi Arabia and work as a nurse. Her father asked her to stay in the United States. Instead she moved to Maryland. Antrum worked as an ICU nurse at Johns Hopkins Hospital for four years. She then moved to San Francisco to become an ICU nurse at UCSF Medical Center. 

During that time, Antrum decided to go back to school for her graduate degree. She moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan to attend the University of Michigan School of Public Health.  At the University of Michigan School of Public Health, she received a Master’s Degree in Health Service and Management Policy.

Following her graduation from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health, Antrum applied for an administrative fellowship at UCSF Medical Center. However, the administrator never told her how much money she would make. So, Antrum never asked,assuming she would be well compensated. She accepted the position. 

At the same time, she was recruited for an emergency department nursing director position in San Francisco. She never interviewed for the job, even though she found out that the ED nursing director job paid almost twice as much as the UCSF job. She talked with her brother-in-law about the decision, and he reminded her about the power of keeping your word. She kept her promise to UCSF and accepted the fellowship. 

“He was right in that the fellowship gave me opportunities and exposure to executive leadership that I would not have had if I was an emergency department director,” Antrum said. 

“And so I tell that story all the time. To say sometimes you can’t see the path that you’re meant to take and what happens down the road.”

She is now the Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at UCSF because she stuck to her word. 

Antrum believes that we can address the nursing shortage in the following ways.

First, she believes that nursing schools have to hire more faculty to teach the practical skills needed for quality patient care. 

We have to re-emphasize the joy of nursing and patient care. Due to the fact that so many people are now burnt out. 

She believes that targeting more people of color and healthcare veterans could go a long way to helping eradicate the shortage. Minorities and healthcare veterans are often underrepresented in the nursing ranks and could bring a great contribution to the field. 

Antrum also wants nurses to partner with different fields like engineering or IT.  This could help design systems that eliminate errors, reduce administrative burden, and increase the time that nurses spend in patient care.  

Overall, Antrum seems very hopeful about the future of nursing. “I think nurses can do anything,” Antrum said. “I am glad to see my fellow nurse leaders take on roles such as hospital presidents, board directors, and CEOs of foundations. I think nursing can contribute in any business or field. You have to understand the dimensions or layers that a nurse brings is amazing.”

Looking back on her career, one thing that she would tell her younger self as a piece of advice is to “enjoy the moment.” 

“I would say remember your purpose and find your joy in all you do.”

Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

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Home Health Nursing: Pros and Cons

Nurse Types / Home Health Nursing: Pros and Cons

Healthcare is usually associated with services provided in hospitals. However, many patients require healthcare services at home. Home health nurses visit patients in their homes to deliver the care that they need.

Examples of home health nursing:

  • Elderly patients that need special care and attention
  • Disability patients that require supervision and aid
  • Patients that require follow-up treatment post-discharge
  • Mentally-ill patients that require specialized care

Home health nursing is a specialty that registered nurses (RN), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and nurse assistants can pursue.

These nurses are either employed by hospitals or work for independent agencies. RN home health nurses can expect to make anywhere between $70,000 to $90,000 depending upon their education, location, and other factors.

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In this article, we will discuss:

ProsCons
Flexible scheduleLack of structure
AutonomyNot ideal for new nurses
Dynamic environmentUnpredictable environment
Personal touchUncooperative patients
Lack of equipment

4 pros of home health nursing

There are several reasons nurses decide to pursue home healthcare. It has several advantages.

Flexible schedule

Depending on the employer, home health nurses can choose between traditional work hours or a flexible schedule. This includes working overnight, four days per week, or weekends. 

The timing can also change according to the type of care you provide and the agency you work with. 

Generally, home health nurses get to decide a large part of their schedule. It can be a very important factor for nurses who have many of responsibilities in their lives.

Work autonomy

For the most part, home health nurses work independently. 

Although nurses have to work with doctors, it involves more collaboration than assistance. Nurses have to rely on their own abilities when dealing with patients.

Since there is no senior doctor or physician to supervise and provide direction onsite, you will need to take the initiative. 

Home health nurses also have to be prepared and ready to act on their own in any situation. This can be very rewarding for those who are a lot of experience.

Dynamic social and work environment

Nurses that care for patients at their home meet many types of people. They get to communicate with families from different social backgrounds, cultures, and social dynamics.

Exposure to so many different families and patients can be a fulfilling experience. It can teach you to become less judgmental and better listeners, which leads to a better healthcare outcome. It provides patients with a more holistic experience. 

Personal touch to healthcare

Home health nurses need to develop an understanding with patients and their families.This is important because they constantly deal with patient needs. It is imperative for nurses to be proactive in taking care of them.

Depending on the type of patient, you will need to adapt to their personal needs. Everyone has their own unique requirements, including the elderly, kids, and those with disabilities. As a nurse, you need to understand the patients on a very personal level.

This kind of personal care doesn’t typically exist in traditional health care settings. For anyone who prefers to work more intimately with patients, it can be very satisfying.

5 cons of home health nursing

Even though home healthcare can be a good option for many nurses, it does have disadvantages you should consider.

Not ideal for newer nurses

Home health nurses work with a lot of autonomy. 

This means you will have to perform most tasks on your own. There is no defined directive to guide you in delivering care to your patients.

Nurses require strong assessment skills and a medical-surgical background. They also need to be confident in their skills as a patient advocate and healthcare provider.

Most of the time, the nurse is going to be performing procedures. This includes wound care, emergency aid, and much more. 

It is best to have a lot of nursing experience and a background in an acute-care setting before becoming a home health nurse.

Lack of good equipment

A patient’s home isn’t the best place to find healthcare equipment.

As a home health nurse, you will have to be resourceful and carry any equipment you might need. 

Unlike a regular hospital setting, there is no access to major healthcare equipment and facilities.

Uncooperative patients

Although it is the job of the nurse to address their patients’ problems, it is not uncommon to find yourself in a situation where your patient may reject your treatment.

Most patients are thankful to nurses who are willing to care for them in their homes. However, there are situations where a patient might perceive you as hostile. 

There could be many reasons for this. For example, pain-inducing treatments like syringes and wound dressing could trigger a patient. Also, patients sometimes perceive nurses as invading their privacy.

You need to be careful in these situations. Handling such patients can be a tough task.

Safety risks & unpredictable workspaces

It is hard to predict the environment of a patient’s home. The locality they live in, their family dynamics, and working hours are all factors that are subject to change.

It can be challenging for nurses to adapt to these environments. You must consider the risks associated with such working conditions. 

For example, you never know when a family member might become aggressive, and sometimes homes carry the risk of infection due to insufficient maintenance. 

You need to be aware of the safety risks every time you enter a new home.

Lack of structure

Home health nurses work in isolated environments. Many dislike this lack of structure and agency. 

There are no supporting staff or colleagues to work with, which could lead to the absence of a good support structure for your mental health.

What is it like to be a home health nurse?

Home health nurses have to care for a variety of patients. These nurses travel to their patients’ homes and work in shifts. 

This could consist of assisting one patient for several hours at a time or intermittently. It may also involve caring for several patients in one day. 

Home health nurses work in collaboration with a doctor to care for and provide healthcare to these patients. 

They need to keep their patients’ medical records up to date and report back to their employers, and they have to maintain accurate paperwork.

Their duties vary according to their career background. Task complexity increases with skill level and qualification.

Their tasks typically include:

  • Administration of medication
  • Taking vital signs
  • Assisting with patient mobility
  • Educating the patient and family on conditions and responsibilities
  • Taking care of patient nutrition
  • Dressing and caring for wounds
  • Managing pain

Apart from performing these tasks, home health nurses also need to:

  • Have patience with patients and family members
  • Know how to communicate effectively
  • Be flexible with their work schedule
  • Be able to work independently and advocate for the patient
  • Be able to travel to and work in home environments
  • Provide personal care with compassion

Home health nurses face many different types of situations. It can be a bit overwhelming, but it also gives nurses an opportunity to explore new experiences. 

Conclusion 

Home health nursing is great for nurses who like independence and working closely with patients. While it has both pros and cons, it can certainly be a very rewarding career. You’ll need to consider these important factors before deciding to become a home health nurse. Then you can decide if the career might be a good fit for you.

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Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

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Should I Retire from Nursing? Here are 4 Things to Consider First.

Career Resources / Considering Retirement

Many nurses aren’t happy with their current jobs and find themselves in stressful situations. Others feel pushed out by their employers because of vaccine mandates and some are simply at retirement age.

In fact, according to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing survey, half of RN’s are 50 years or older.

However, retiring right away might not be a workable choice for every nurse. Sudden retirement could lead to an even worse situation if you haven’t planned ahead. 

In this article, we are going to discuss some critical factors that nurses should consider when thinking about taking retirement: 

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What's your current role?

Assess your financial health

Assessing your financial health gives you the information you need to make so taking early retirement won’t backfire on you. 

Whether you are planning to retire and relax (emoji) or transition to a new career, you need to ensure you are ready for this kind of move. This is done by evaluating your finances.

Follow these steps to assess your current financial health:

1. Determine your gross income

Your gross income represents your total salary and earnings.This information is usually given with your monthly paycheck.

2. Calculate your net income

Most net income is determined for you. This is your take-home pay less taxes and other deductions (HSA, 401(k), dues, etc.). This is the amount on your paycheck.

If this is not provided, you can figure out your net income. Calculate the difference between your current gross income and the total expenses against it (pre-tax deductions). 

You should calculate your net worth for at least 12 months in order to determine what you will need annually. 

3. Estimate your total monthly expenses 

Estimate your monthly expenses by adding up your fixed payments and flexible expenses. 

Rent, insurance, and loan installments are some common examples of fixed payments. 

Flexible expenses include things like credit card payments, food expenses, and the cost of recreational activities. These tend to vary every month which is why they are referred to as flexible expenses.

What to do next?

If the difference between your annual income and expenses is a positive number, then you may want to go ahead with pursuing a nursing retirement plan. 

However, don’t forget to evaluate your cash savings and retirement benefits mindfully before leaving the nursing profession permanently. You may also be hit with penalties if you take out retirement funds early.

You shouldn’t decide to retire immediately if the difference between your net income and expenses remains negative for multiple months.

Estimate your nursing retirement benefits

Assessing your current financial health is merely a part of a workable nursing retirement plan. 

In addition to your current finances, you should also estimate retirement benefits offered by your employer, including pension, 401(k), and 403(b). 

Furthermore, your individual plans such as IRA, HSA, and personal savings could also come in handy when managing your post-retirement finances. But there’s good news. It’s never too late to start saving for your future if you haven’t begun investing in retirement plan yet.

Here’s a brief summary of some popular retirement plans:

401(k) and 403(b)

These retirement plans are a complementary package with most nursing jobs. Your employer automatically deducts monthly installments from your gross salary.

You will have to pay a penalty if you take an early retirement or decide to withdraw your 401(k) or 403(b) money before your retirement age.

Pension

A pension is a savings fund that your employer pays into over the length of your career with them. You don’t have to pay into a pension – this is solely the employer’s responsibility. 

When you retire, the pension is paid out on a monthly basis. 

Individual retirement account

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a savings account that allows you to save money for your post-retirement life. 

An IRA gives you certain tax advantages and is governed by your bank instead of your employer.

Health savings account

A health savings account (HSA) is used to pay for qualified healthcare expenses. 

This offers you certain tax advantages. You can use it to cover expenses such as copayments, deductibles, and coinsurance. But this is only available if you have a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP).

Social Security benefits

If you wait until retirement age you will receive percentage of your income, though there are limits. Make sure to estimate what your Social Security payments will be when you retire. 

Explore advanced nursing career opportunities

If you’re a nurse considering retirement, but your salary isn’t high enough, you can try to enhance your nursing skill set and explore better career opportunities. 

Earning specialty certificates and continuing education credits significantly improve your chances of securing a more advanced nursing role. 

Advanced specialties receive the highest-paying nursing jobs. These include careers as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, Nursing Administrator, Nurse Practitioner, Certified Nurse-Midwife, Nurse Instructor, and other advanced practice nursing roles.

Moving to a new region may be another option. Average nurse salaries vary significantly in different regions of the country. Finding a nurse job in a higher-paying region might be a good idea. 

Remember to factor in the cost-of-living differences between regions in order to make a better-informed decision. Confusing? We can also put you in touch with nurses just like you for career advice.

Post-retirement nursing jobs

The idea of life after retirement varies from person to person. Some people have been planning to fill their post-retirement life with fun activities for years. 

Others don’t plan for life after retirement and find themselves easily bored. Some wish to go back to work and get back to a routine. 

There is good news. We have some exciting job suggestions for retired nurses such as a freelance nursing writer, nurse educator or teacher, nursing licensure exams reviewer, nurse bill auditor, and more!

Wrap Up: nurses considering retirement have a lot to think about

Leaving your current career is never an easy decision and should not be taken lightly, especially if you are considering retirement. However, if you plan ahead, it can certainly be a great option.

If you’re looking to move on from your current employer but stay in the nursing field, consider signing up with Incredible Health.

We can help connect you with new potential employers so you can start getting the most out of your nursing career.

Get job matches in your area + answers to all your nursing career questions

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What's your current role?

Sources

“Evaluating Your Finances.” practicalmoneyskills.com. Accessed Jan 28. 2022.

“Frequently Asked Questions.” ssa.org. Accessed Jan 28. 2022.

“How Much Will You Get from Social Security.” usnews.com. Accessed Jan 28. 2022.

“Life After Retiring as a Nurse.” diversitynursing.com. Accessed Jan 28. 2022.

“What is Full Retirement Age?” ssa.org. Accessed Jan. 31, 2022.

Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

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Red Flags for Starting a New Nursing Job

Starting a new job is standard for any profession, and the same holds for nursing. Nurses who stay with one company for the entirety of their tenure are rare. In changing specialties, nurses must understand the various red flags to be aware of. Now, some things that appear to be red flags are not. They are more like yellow flags. 

In this blog post, we will explore the following categories of red flags:

Lack of Orientation – Red flag

As with any job, having an orientation is a critical part of getting acclimated to a profession. Though nurses should be competent when they start a new job, many things don’t overlap between the various nursing companies. Therefore, it’s a major red flag if the facility doesn’t provide ample training or orientation.

Most orientations last at least a couple of days, if not weeks. If you start a new job and realize that the orientation is literally showing you a tour of the building, then it may suggest that the operation is poorly run. 

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Drama and complaining by the preceptor – Red flag

Many times, when you work with the preceptor, they will put on a mask to make the job seem appealing. Many preceptors are excellent teachers and will help you advance in your career. It’s a fast-paced and traumatic profession that requires staff members to practice honesty and openness. 

Preceptors that perpetuate drama and complain a lot can create real issues for the rest of the staff. You may want to believe that it is only one person, but that one person can impact the entire company. It is that simple. Pay attention to the way the preceptor handles things, and it will give you a good idea of how the company is run and the culture is. 

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Older nurses eating their young – Red flag

There’s a common saying in the nursing industry that “older nurses eat their young,” which means that veteran nurses often treat younger nurses with disdain and test them a bit before giving them a worthy shot. 

Now, this can come with the territory; however, be alert as to how much this is going on. If you feel that it’s bordering on harassment, the work environment might not be a good facilitator for your success. 

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Lack of a staff committee – Red flag

Nurses need to feel like they are seen and heard and that their ideas–based on experience–are taken seriously by the administration. Suppose there’s not a staff committee dedicated to allowing nurses to introduce initiatives then you have to wonder if it’s the right place for you. Even if the company does have a committee, if it’s not active, that’s a bad sign. 

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Working a shift you weren’t promised – Red flag

Sometimes nurses end up working different shifts than they were promised. This can frustrate the nurse and make them feel duped when signing up for the job. Additionally, sometimes nurses end up working different roles than they were promised to work. This is a no. Full stop. Nurses need to work within their specialties and explore the skills that bring out the best in them. 

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The hiring manager and director are new – Red flag 

If a nurse shows up to the interview and finds out that the hiring manager and director have only been in the position for about three months, that is a major red flag. It implies that there is a lot of turnovers at the facility and that you should be cautious.  

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Holiday draw – Yellow flag

Every new nurse is going to have to work the holiday shift. That’s just the reality of things. Now, once the nurse gains experience, they can eventually stop working holidays, but they will work the holiday shift for the beginning of their tenure. Nurses shouldn’t worry if they work that shift. It’s customary and isn’t abuse or personal.

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Seniority scheduling – Yellow flag

Nurses who have held a position longer than you will often have better shifts than you. That said, it shouldn’t be considered a red flag. Allowing senior nurses to work better shifts rewards those who have worked for a while and shown loyalty. 

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Demetrius was an Incredible Health contributor. He has worked as a freelance writer and content strategist. His work has appeared in outlets such as Java Magazine, Phoenix Magazine, and Nurse.org.

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