Skilled Nursing job question

steve40 · Feb 21, 2009

I have worked at a veterans Home for 22 years. I have to say that at times it can be anything but calm LOL. They do try to structure them more towards a "home-like" atmosphere, that I will agree on. As far as hourly pay, many state facilities are actually several steps above hospital wages. You have to keep in mind however, that such as where I work, there may be as many as 50 or more residents (per floor) to be responsible for. Probably what seperates them most predominantly is the fact that many of the residents in a long term skilled nursing facility are chronicaly ill. That is not to say that their condition's can't become suddenly acute however. My best advice would be not to base your decission on the expectation that the environment will be calm:)

Freedom42 · Feb 21, 2009

I have worked at a veterans Home for 22 years. I have to say that at times it can be anything but calm LOL. They do try to structure them more towards a "home-like" atmosphere, that I will agree on. As far as hourly pay, many state facilities are actually several steps above hospital wages. You have to keep in mind however, that such as where I work, there may be as many as 50 or more residents (per floor) to be responsible for. Probably what seperates them most predominantly is the fact that many of the residents in a long term skilled nursing facility are chronicaly ill. That is not to say that their condition's can't become suddenly acute however. My best advice would be not to base your decission on the expectation that the environment will be calm:)

I'm also a new grad. Do you think working in a SNF would be good preparation for a med-surg job in a hospital?

deyo321 · Feb 21, 2009

I learned quite alot in a SNF unit right out of school. I had some good mentors. I will repeat what others have said, I did not find it calm at all.