The healthcare industry is booming. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics projected 1.26 million healthcare job openings per year for 2016 to 2026. And because the number of people over 65 is growing rapidly (from 43 million in 2012 to 84 million by 2050, according to the US Census Bureau), we can continue to expect an abundance of employment opportunities in skilled nursing facilities.

Whether you're just setting out and looking for a meaningful career, or you're already well established in the healthcare industry and looking for a change of pace, you may want to consider working in a skilled nursing facility. Here are some of the benefits:

Close bonds with patients

The inpatient population in a skilled nursing facility doesn't turn over as rapidly as in hospitals, which means you get to spend more time with your patients and foster relationships with them and their families. Spending birthdays, holidays, and other celebrations with your patients will deepen your bond with them, which in turn allows you to provide a superior standard of care, as you're able to anticipate their needs.

Healthcare as a team effort

Working as a team can make stressful days more manageable, and collaborative care is known to produce the best results for patients. In a skilled nursing facility, nurses are just one part of the total care package?you'll have the opportunity to work with a wide range of professionals including LPNs, physical, occupational, and speech therapists, dieticians, pharmacists, social workers, and case managers.

Sharpened pharmacology skills

Dispensing medications on a long-term basis provides unique insights, such as troublesome side effects, drug interactions, and dosing errors that might not be as obvious with high patient turnover. And when those insights are shared collaboratively with your colleagues, you might even learn something new that could save a life in the future.

Improved time management skills

Because patients at skilled nursing facilities are assumed to be more medically stable compared to hospital patients, there is usually a higher patient to nurse ratio. That means there's never a dull moment, but it's also an opportunity to hone your time management skills by balancing treatments, check-ups, paperwork, family updates, and more.

Variety of experiences

Skilled nursing facilities are basically a generalized internal medicine unit, with employees encountering a wide variety of diagnoses and treatments every day. Not only does such variety increase your knowledge, experience, and skills, but it also ensures that it's never dull working in a skilled nursing facility.

Join the Bella Vista Health Center team

If you love caring for people and you're looking for a position that offers variety, collaboration, and close bonds with your patients, skilled nursing facility employment might be right for you. At Bella Vista Health Center, we offer short- and long-term rehabilitative care. Our staff is compassionate, highly skilled, and dedicated to the comfort and care of our patient population. If you're interested in joining our team, give us a call at (619) 399-7920 or visit our Careers page to find out more about our current job opportunities.