‘Nursing home’. The name itself tells us just how important a registered nurse is to their place of work, enabling medical care to be available to residents 24 hours a day.
In fact, the presence of a registered nurse is what separates the main types of care home. So it’s no exaggeration to say that nurses are mission critical to the social care sector.
And if you’re thinking of becoming a care home nurse, we want to help you get there.
Keep reading to discover more about this hugely rewarding role, including:
- The day-to-day responsibilities of a nursing home nurse
- The skills that could make you perfect for nursing home nursing
- How to become a nursing home nurse: the qualifications you’ll need
- 3 Free FuturU courses to build your nursing skills and readiness.
What does a nursing home nurse do?
In a nursing home, a registered nurse is responsible for ensuring that all Care Quality Commission standards are met in the delivery of clinical care to residents.
On an average day, this means a nursing home nurse will:
- administer medication, take temperature and blood pressure, and treat wounds
- track residents’ medical progress and update their records accordingly
- work with other healthcare professionals to design person-centred care plans
- continually observe, review and evaluate residents’ care needs and plans
- provide best practice guidance to the care team on delivering clinical care.
What soft skills does a nursing home nurse need?
There isn’t one single personality type that’s exclusively suited to working in a nursing home. Great carers can come from all walks of life, from all kinds of backgrounds and experience.
But there are certain traits and motivations that can give you a better chance of building a successful and rewarding career within the sector. For a nurse, these soft skills include:
- Resilience: It isn’t easy being the only qualified nurse in the building, as will often be the case. Leadership and supervisory responsibilities make this a rewarding role, but also an extremely demanding one. Resilience is a must for any care home nurse.
- Active listening: As a registered nurse, you’re not just responsible for clinical care. You’re also a key team leader. Both roles call for the ability to hear, absorb and act on information from others. Active listening skills will go a long way in this role.
- Digital confidence: A huge range of technology underpins the provision of care in a nursing home, from bed and movement monitors to medication management. It’s vital that you have the digital skills to use and adopt new systems and software.
What qualifications do you need to become a nursing home nurse?
You will need a BSc Nursing degree, which usually takes three years’ of full-time study to complete. You can choose to specialise in working with adults, children, or in mental health.
Nursing apprenticeships are also available, provided you’re already working for a health or social care employer and you have a qualified colleague who can act as your supervisor.
Once you’ve qualified, you must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council before you can legally practise as a nurse or use the title ‘Registered Nurse’.
3 Free online courses for aspiring nursing home nurses
Like all care professions, being a nursing home nurse isn’t just about having the right degree. A nursing home is a uniquely demanding working environment, and having a broad understanding of the situations you’ll encounter will help you succeed.
Here are three FuturU online care courses to prepare you for nursing home work.
1) Verification of Expected Death
When a care home resident dies, 87% of the time the death occurs within the home itself. Establishing that a death has occurred is a significant responsibility for care home nurses.
Our free Verification of Expected Death course will equip you to make that assessment and provide that verification. Take the course to learn everything you need to know about:
- the concept of expected death and its significance in end-of-life care
- the nurse’s responsibilities in verifying expected death
- the signs and symptoms that indicate an expected death
- the legal framework and steps involved in verifying death
- providing compassionate support to grieving families
- strategies for managing the emotional impact of end-of-life care.
About this course
- Duration: 30 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 24 months
2) Phlebotomy
Phlebotomy means using a needle to take blood from a vein, a process that’s also known as venipuncture. Understanding venipuncture techniques is crucial for care home nurses.
This free online Phlebotomy course helps you confidently perform the common nursing task of phlebotomy, reducing discomfort and ensuring accuracy by introducing you to:
- the components of blood and its importance in diagnosis
- correct blood collection procedures – eg. patient preparation and equipment use
- infection control practices to protect yourself and others
- effective communication and patient care skills
- the legal and ethical framework for phlebotomy practice.
About this course
- Duration: 120 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 12 months
3) Medication Administration for Nurses
Every year, medication-related errors cost the global economy $42 billion. In a care home, safely administering medications to residents is a huge responsibility for the nursing team.
Our free online Medication Administration course helps nurses enhance their accuracy, minimise errors, and ensure adherence to clinical guidelines. Here’s what you’ll learn:
- the principles of medication administration, and legal and ethical considerations
- best practices for accurate and complete documentation and recordkeeping
- the different types of medications and their appropriate administration routes
- the techniques for preparing medications safely and accurately
- how to administer medications correctly (including oral, parenteral, and topical)
- common medication errors and how to prevent them.
About this course
- Duration: 250 minutes
- CPD accredited? Yes
- Valid for: 12 months
There’s more to learn with FuturU - and it’s all free
Whether you’re an experienced nurse moving across from the NHS, or entirely new to the profession, our online courses can prepare you for the new challenge of nursing home work.
From working with residents with dementia to providing mealtime assistance and ensuring fire safety, we have over 100 free online courses to equip you with the skills you need.
Start your journey into the care sector by exploring the FuturU course library today.
