As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, the need for long term care and assisted living steadily rises. In 2015, long term senior care became a 250 million dollar industry. Since senior care nurses are more in demand than ever, choosing a career in this field is wise. However, working in this capacity is not for everyone. Before obtaining your long term care online education, read on to learn what it takes to be a good candidate for a senior care nurse.
Patience
The average senior care resident is 84 years old. With this age group, both physical conditions (such as chronic bone loss) and neurological conditions (such as dementia) are prevalent. Therefore, in order to care for such patients, nurses need a gentle, patient disposition.
Scores of long term care patients suffer documented abuse in nursing homes and other long term care facilities. Much of the abuse stems from caregivers who are ill-equipped in terms of providing the patients with kind, compassionate care due to the wrong temperament. Becoming a successful caregiver for physically and mentally vulnerable individuals is a blend of a calm character and an appropriate long term online education.
A Willingness To Learn
When you make a career of nursing, you sign up for a lifetime of education. There is always something new to learn on the assisted care and nursing front. Whether you are required to update your nursing license or your management encourages continuing online education in long term care, you must be willing to digest new information all the time.
　Updating your education is key to keeping skills sharp and staying aware of new medical developments that may affect your patients. Since much of continuing education can be pursued via the web these days, you can study and work at the same time. The ability to balance both education and employment is just as important as the willingness to learn and grow in your career.
Competent Nursing Skills
A passion for being kind and helpful to those who need it most is not enough to succeed as a long term care nurse. In addition, you must also display competent nursing skills.
Whether you are bathing a patient or changing their IV, you have to be comfortable and efficient when performing your duties. Some prospective nurses embrace the ideal of caring for patients, but find that they can’t execute that care in practice.
For instance, if you have trouble with physically lifting a patient in order to dress him or her, you are likely to encounter constant challenges on the job. Also, if you experience physical uneasiness at the sight of blood, this profession might not be for you.
Are You Ready For A Career In Long Term Nursing?
Now that you have a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful and valuable senior care nurse, are you ready to leap into your new career? If so, your journey begins today. Learn more about the process of completing your long term care online education here.
