Why work in a nursing home?
Grow your skills and build a career in Rhode Island nursing homes, where you can learn, advance, and make a difference every day.
Career Growth
Nursing homes have healthcare professionals from all areas, making it easier to gain experience and develop new skills to further your career. Staff often gain hands‑on experience faster than in other settings.
Job Stability
The consistent need for healthcare professionals working with older populations means your specialized skills will always be in demand. Many facilities offer different shifts for flexible scheduling to fit different lifestyles.
Meaningful Work
You’ll be providing care and comfort to one of our most vulnerable populations, making a positive impact on your community, and building lasting relationships with residents and their families.
Explore nursing home career pathways
Nursing Assistant (NA)
NAs provide basic patient care, like helping with daily activities and patient hygiene, monitoring vital signs, and making sure patients are comfortable.
Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)
LPNs provide patient care, give medications, monitor patient health, develop care plans, and supervise NAs.
Registered Nurse (RN)
RNs have broader responsibilities, like developing care plans, giving treatments and medications, performing diagnostic tests, coordinate care with Physicians, and supervising LPNs and NAs.
Helping You Start and Grow Your NA Career
The Rhode Island Executive Office of Health and Human Services helps nursing facilities cover the cost of training Nursing Assistants (NAs). If you complete your NA training while working for a nursing facility, the facility can be reimbursed for those training costs. If you completed your training somewhere else, you may still qualify for partial reimbursement if you are hired by a nursing facility within 12 months of becoming certified.
Reimbursement is also available for licensed NAs who take approved continuing education courses.
To qualify for reimbursement, a nursing facility must offer a NA training program approved by the Rhode Island Department of Health (RIDOH). RIDOH’s rules for Nursing Assistant Training Programs are outlined in state regulations.
Opportunities to grow
Nursing homes present opportunities to grow your career with specialized and leadership positions.
Specialized Positions
- Infection Preventionist
- Wound Care Specialist
- Compliance Officer
- Resident Assessment Coordinator
Leadership Positions
- Director of Nursing
- Chief Nursing Officer
Sources: This information was developed in conjunction with our federal partners at CMS.