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A long term care nurse, typically a registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN/LVN), provides ongoing clinical care to patients who need extended support due to chronic illness, disability, or the effects of aging. These nurses usually work in nursing homes, skilled nursing facilities, assisted living communities, and rehabilitation centers, where care shifts from short term acute treatment toward sustained, person centered support delivered over weeks, months, or years.
The role overlaps closely with geriatric nursing, and many recruiters compare the two when building out a geriatric nurse job description alongside this one.
A strong long term care nurse job description should communicate both the clinical scope of the role and the relational, day to day nature of long term care settings. At a high level, the position calls for a licensed nurse who can assess, plan, and deliver care for a resident population with complex, evolving needs while coordinating closely with physicians, therapists, social workers, and families.
Sample summary: “We are looking for a compassionate, detail oriented long term care nurse to join our facility team. In this role, you will assess resident health status, administer treatments and medications, build individualized care plans, and support residents and families through the realities of chronic and age related conditions, all while upholding high standards of clinical and ethical practice.”
Most long term care nurse roles include:
Strong long term care nurse candidates typically bring:
Recruiters can benchmark these requirements against neighboring roles, including the registered nurse job description and the nursing assistant job description for the support staff who often work alongside long term care nurses on the floor.
Pay for long term care nurses varies by license type, geography, and facility, though most postings track close to national registered nurse averages. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median annual wage for registered nurses was $93,600 in May 2024, and employment of registered nurses is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, driven largely by an aging population and rising demand for chronic care management.
That demand shows up directly in long term care settings. The CDC’s National Post Acute and Long Term Care Study, tracked through its NPALS program, documents the scale of the nursing home, assisted living, and residential care sector in the United States, underscoring why skilled nursing talent remains a persistent hiring priority for operators nationwide.
Because long term care nurses often work with less direct physician oversight than acute care nurses, hiring teams should weigh more than a license and a resume. Look for candidates who show:
This is where a structured, skills based hiring process pays off. Glider AI’s healthcare recruiting solutions help hiring teams verify nursing licenses, run role specific competency assessments, and screen for the judgment and communication skills that matter most in long term care settings, well before a candidate reaches a final interview. Teams building out a broader slate of clinical roles can also compare templates in the Job Description Library.
A well written long term care nurse job description does more than list duties. It sets accurate expectations for a role that blends clinical skill with sustained, relationship driven care, helping facilities attract nurses who are genuinely suited to the pace and purpose of long term care.
Pair a clear job description with rigorous, skills based screening, and hiring teams can build long term care staff that residents and families can depend on.
A long term care nurse provides ongoing clinical care, including assessments, treatments, medication administration, and care plan management, for patients living with chronic illness, disability, or age related conditions in settings such as nursing homes, assisted living communities, and skilled nursing facilities.
The two roles overlap heavily, since most long term care patients are older adults, but geriatric nursing is defined mainly by patient age while long term care nursing is defined by the setting and duration of care. A geriatric nurse may work in a hospital, clinic, or home setting, while a long term care nurse typically works in a residential care facility over extended stays.
Most employers require an active RN or LPN/LVN license from an accredited nursing program, along with clinical experience in geriatric or chronic care. Certifications such as Gerontological Nursing Certification, Certified Long Term Care Nurse credentials, and Basic Life Support are common additional requirements.
Long term care nurse pay generally tracks close to national registered nurse averages. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a median annual wage of $93,600 for registered nurses in May 2024, though actual pay varies by license type, facility, and location.
Long term care nurses need strong clinical assessment skills, clear communication with residents and families, critical thinking for evolving conditions, leadership to guide nursing assistants and LPNs, and a steady commitment to person centered, ethical care over long stretches of time.
Long term care nursing offers steady demand, driven by an aging population and rising chronic care needs, along with the chance to build deep, lasting relationships with residents and families. It suits nurses who value autonomy, patient centered care, and continuity over the faster pace of acute care settings.
Employment for registered nurses, including those in long term care, is projected to grow 5 percent from 2024 to 2034, faster than the average for all occupations, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, largely due to an aging population and increased demand for chronic disease management.
Employers can combine license verification, structured interviews, and validated competency assessments to confirm clinical skill and judgment beyond what a resume shows. Platforms built for healthcare recruiting can automate license checks and skills based screening to reduce hiring risk.
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