Nursing home jobs provide an opportunity to give direct help to vulnerable people and make a real, positive difference to their quality of life. Because the ageing population is increasing, so is the number of jobs in this sector, so it can provide excellent job security in combination with a rewarding role.
Workers who make good progress in this environment may go on to become nursing home managers, supervising all activities within the home and making sure that it meets national standards of care.
Nursing home jobs: what you need.
Nursing home workers need to have strong people skills and be especially good at communication, as they may be looking after people with a range of communication difficulties, from deafness to dementia. They also need experience in assessing care needs, and practical nursing skills. To rise to management level, they will need to show that they can handle tasks such as record keeping and budgeting.
Day to day responsibilities.
Day to day work in this role involves providing for patients’ basic needs by helping them with things like getting out of bed, dressing, bathing and eating. It also involves liaising with doctors and hospitals to make sure that their health care needs are provided for, and dealing with situations that may require first aid, such as when a resident falls. In addition to this, nursing home workers should aim to build up relationships with residents so that they feel emotionally connected and secure.
Applying for nursing home jobs.
Despite the growth of the sector, there can be a lot of demand for nursing home jobs, so it is important to approach applications with care. This begins with reading the advertisement for a position carefully and making sure that the application complies with its instructions exactly. It is also a good idea to thoroughly research both the company and the nursing home to which you are applying.
It is important to proof read the application form, CV and covering letter carefully. Covering letters should be no more than one page in length and CVs no more than two. In both cases, less directly relevant information can be summarised if necessary in order to save space. A short statement about personal skills should be included at the end of the CV and expanded upon in the covering letter, with particular emphasis on communication abilities.
Nursing home job interviews.
When approaching a nursing home job interview it is important to be well rested, focused and engaged. The communication that takes place during the interview itself testifies to the suitability of the candidate. It is also important to be well prepared. Going over a past NVQ portfolio can provide a useful reminder of examples worth mentioning and situations worth discussing.
Interviews will generally include questions about past experiences of dealing with difficult situations. In this case, it is less important to demonstrate a flawless history than to demonstrate what was learned from the incident. Similarly, difficult ethical questions do not necessarily have a right answer, but are there to test awareness of the issues and of when and where to seek assistance.
