activities assistant?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Hi everyone,

Do you think it would be weird to apply for a job as an activities assistant? Would this be frowned upon (by potential employers). I'm an RN and have worked in LTC (skilled unit, actually) but I am thinking that the medication pass, the being tied to the phone, and the fax machine is just not for me. I quit my job over 6 months ago and have been dreading looking for a job because I really cannot say why any new nursing position would be any different for me.

I realize that I would take a healthy pay cut. On the other hand, I've pretty much always worked part time because I cannot stand getting out late/having no breaks.

And there is this: I've always been more interested in just talking with residents about their life, their interests, etc. That is not to say that I have no interest in the clinical aspect of the job, but med passes and interruptions and being rushed. I hate having people feel like something that they're a task I have to"get through". I also get tired of delegating. And don't get me started on the paperwork. And geez, the amount of medications people are on!

I do like working with an older population.

On the other hand, I don't have any artistic talent!

Thanks in advance.

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Just a thought to throw your way.....have you ever thought of becoming a social worker or counselor? You could specialize in working with the elderly. Maybe you could work in activities and go back to school. The other thing is.... nursing in LTC is hard. Have you ever thought of working in psych......ona geri-psych unit? Sounds like maybe it might be more up your alley.

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Look at mental health facilities. I am interviewing at a place tomorrow and they offer groups for the patients. In my experiences, activities assistants got paid very low wages, had their budget cut every year or were phased out by volunteers.

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

Holy moly...geri-psych is no walk in the park. I have a geri-psych unit in my building and the nurses on that unit run from the start of the shift to the end.

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Ambulatory Care.

Do what makes you happy. I have worked with secretaries who had master degrees. If money is not a concern for you, do activities. Enjoy life it is too short to have a job you do not want.

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I don't think it will be frowned upon, however, there is a very big pay gap between activities assistant pay and RN pay. Most LTC's are cost conscious, that is they would rather get someone they can pay 12-13 dollars/hr rather than an RN who has to be payed double 26-30$/hr. Good luck.

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Specializes in Pediatric Private Duty; Camp Nursing.

I had been a teacher when I decided to go into nursing. To get my foot in the door, I took a job in an activities dept. in a nursing home while going to school. The pay was terrible (9.50/hr) but it was the best job I ever had, hands down. We did all sorts of fun stuff: crafts, parties, singalongs, cooking, LOTS of reading aloud (newspapers, Chicken Soup for the Soul, etc.), field trips to go bowling, shopping, and the local casino. I also did one-on-ones with people who were unable or unwilling to get up to go to group activities. These were the most wonderful opportunities to get to know the residents, I learned so much about life in the earlier part of the century. How often do you get to sit and interview an octogenarian? But as was said here, it pays very little. It's a wonderful job if you have a spouse that makes good money and you want to get out of the hosue and do something truly worthwhile. If it would have paid the bills, I would have worked in activities forever. Once I started nursing in that same facility, it was sad for me to enter the room, give their meds/tx, and then leave in a jiffy. It took this one lady a long time to realize I wasn't there for a social call. There's a lot I miss, but I need the dough. :(

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Thanks for the replies everyone. Mostly my question was about whether I would be taken seriously as a candidate for such a job. Cloudysue, I know exactly what you're saying. As for the money, well...I know that it is significantly less, but I can't say that any sort of money can compensate for many of my frustrations of working on the floor (in the hospital and LTC). Plus, as I stated before-- I've pretty mcuh always worked part time as a nurse, so the pay cut would not be such a big deal. I would hope that I could get some sort of lunch break and get out of work on time as an activities assistant!

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Hello everyone!

I have been working as an activities assistant in a Nursing Home for 8 years. I am an RN and got the position with those credentials. Recently there have been some opportunities to fill in temporarily as an activities lead. However, I have been told that I do not qualify.

My supervisor (who runs Activities program) was hired with zero qualifications (seniority in another Department) and was allowed to complete an 8 month degree from home for her position. She has done everything in her power to block me from getting this job. It is becoming obvious that she has issues with me because I have my RN and she feels threatened.

I have searched the forum and found that other nurses work in this field. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues with not having a specific activities degree?

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Hello everyone!

I have been working as an activities assistant in a Nursing Home for 8 years. I am an RN and got the position with those credentials. Recently there have been some opportunities to fill in temporarily as an activities lead. However, I have been told that I do not qualify.

My supervisor (who runs Activities program) was hired with zero qualifications (seniority in another Department) and was allowed to complete an 8 month degree from home for her position. She has done everything in her power to block me from getting this job. It is becoming obvious that she has issues with me because I have my RN and she feels threatened.

I have searched the forum and found that other nurses work in this field. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced any issues with not having a specific activities degree?

To my knowledge you do not need to be an RN to be an activities director & I'm pretty sure you can get certified as one online or at a community college. Why are you working as one when you are an RN?

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Health issues have prevented me from working as a Nurse and I was okay taking a pay cut as I work modified hours at my current job.

I realize you don't need to be an RN. I guess I know that other Nurses also work in Activities although it is not a "Nursing" job. I live in Canada and several people at my current job have the same 8 month degree and while details are vague, HR accepts it.

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Specializes in M/S, LTC, Corrections, PDN & drug rehab.
Health issues have prevented me from working as a Nurse and I was okay taking a pay cut as I work modified hours at my current job.

I realize you don't need to be an RN. I guess I know that other Nurses also work in Activities although it is not a "Nursing" job. I live in Canada and several people at my current job have the same 8 month degree and while details are vague, HR accepts it.

Are there any other jobs you can work in with your RN degree that don't require physical labor like doctor's office? I live in the states so people can become an activities assistant at a community college. I don't know any RNs who work as activity assistants.

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