The nursing profession is full of opportunities. You can choose to work in a hospital, at a private clinic, in private homes or in a nursing facility. If you’ve decided to work as a nurse or nursing assistant in a facility, you still need to find the job that’s the right fit for you. Here are some things to consider:
Nursing Shifts
When you apply for a job, it’s important to find out which shifts the facility is primarily looking to fill. If you prefer to work days, you won’t be happy at a nursing home that desperately needs night nurses and vice versa. It’s also important to know how much flexibility there is – what happens if you want to switch your shift? How much advance notice do you need to give and are the coordinators understanding of schedule changes due to things happening in your life? If you have a lot going on outside of work, flexibility is likely to be crucial.
The Nursing Staff
If you can, visit the facility before taking a job there, so you can get a feel for the vibe of the nursing staff. You will be working long hours with the same people and teamwork is an integral part of caregiving in a facility. See how the staff communicate with each other, whether the nurses seem stressed and how they treat their patients.
Nursing Facility Conditions
Check out the nursing facility conditions as well, so you can be sure that you are working at an excellent facility that puts the care and comfort of its patients first. Cleanliness of the premises, patient hygiene and the demeanor of the staff are all indications of how well the patients are cared for. If you are able to speak to a few patients, pay attention to whether they are content and how they talk to and about the staff.
Management of Nurses
A great job can be ruined if you don’t have a good relationship with management. In addition to genuinely caring about their patients, management should be dedicated to making sure that the nursing staff is treated well. Speak to a few of the nurses on staff and see what they say about their interactions with management. If other nurses love coming to work, chances are that you will too.
Sometimes the only way to know if you will enjoy a nursing job is to try it out for a while and see if you like it. Here at Towne, we want you to be happy with your work and excited to get to your shifts. If you start a job and it’s not the right fit for you, speak to your coordinator and we will help you find the right one.
