Senior Living or Skilled Nursing Homes are facilities designed for 24/7 residential and medical care for the elderly or disabled. These facilities have the equipment and staff necessary to provide healthcare and rehabilitation services to individuals who need long-term care.
Our current nursing staff enjoys working at Cortland Acres, a skilled nursing facility, rather than in a hospital or clinic environment for many reasons. Read on to learn more about what our staff members love about their roles here at Cortland Acres.
RNs, LPNs, and CNAs who work in a skilled nursing facility or a nursing home have the opportunity to use the skill-sets they gained throughout their education. Our staff is able to perform all of the essential functions necessary to take care of patients with ailments ranging from post-surgical recovery to dementia. In the hospital setting, nurses monitor patients’ vital signs, assist with their daily activities, perform emergency interventions, transport patients, etc... Here at Cortland Acres, our nursing staff performs these same duties and more, handling everything from monitoring vitals and assisting with medical procedures, to serving patients their meals.
Skilled Nursing allows our staff to get to know the residents on a more personal level, forming bonds with them. Our nurses have the opportunity for much more interaction with residents and their families in the skilled nursing facility setting, allowing for a sense of community here. They typically see the same patients for an extended period of time, predominantly elderly patients. Whereas in the fast-paced hospital or clinic setting, nurses see a variety of patients, of all ages. And because these facilities are not designed for long-term care, their staff spends less time with patients, often preventing the chance to get to know one another.
Our staff has the opportunity to care for members of our community. We never know who is going to come in the door – neighbors, families, friends, teachers – but we do know that we can make a positive difference in their lives.
While the salary that a hospital nurse earns is often a bit higher than that of a full-time care nurse, the hours are longer and less flexible. These nursing roles often require working 12-hour shifts, nights, weekends, and even holidays. Skilled Nursing Facilities or Nursing Homes allow for a more versatile schedule, often 8-hour shifts and some weekends and holidays. The slow pace and flexible schedule are beneficial to all who work here.
Additionally, Cortland Acres is close to home for many members of our staff. Several staff members feel that our work environment is similar to a family dynamic, and we pride ourselves in this. We aim to make everyone – patients and staff – feel at home when they enter our doors.
We would love to have you as a part of our Skilled Nursing team. If you are currently seeking employment as an RN, LPN, or CNA, we encourage you to review our Indeed hiring page or contact our Director of Human Resources, Lois Nelson at 304-463-4181.