- Nursing Homepage
- Nursing specialties
- Long-term care nurse
Long-term care nurse
A long-term care nurse cares for patients across stages of care, playing a critical role in improving patient outcomes and quality of life.
- X (Twitter)
Copy link
Required education
ADN or BSN
Structured
Follow a routine that allows you to anticipate and prepare for every situation.
High demand
This specialty is in high demand in the U.S.
What is the role of a long-term care nurse?
You’ll support patients throughout the care journey, helping manage conditions, coordinate care, and maintain quality of life.
Care over time
Help patients navigate changing health needs while maintaining their quality of life.
Relationship-driven
Build lasting connections with patients and families while guiding care decisions and supporting long-term well-being.
Clinical leadership
Work across care teams to assess needs, coordinate care plans, and ensure safe, high-quality outcomes.
What you’ll do as a long-term care nurse
Care coordination
Collaborate with care teams and settings to develop, implement, and adapt care plans as patient needs change.
Patient & family guidance
Help families and patients navigate conditions, care decisions, and long-term health needs.
Clinical care
Assess patient status, administer treatments, and manage conditions across stages of care.
Where you’ll work as a long-term care nurse
Long-term care nurses work in a range of environments, supporting patients through transitions in care and across changing needs.
- Assisted living communities
- Nursing homes
- Patients’ homes
How to become a long-term care nurse
To become a long-term care nurse, you’ll build a strong clinical foundation and develop the skills needed to manage care through transitions, shifting needs, and different care environments.
Earn your degree
Earn an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). Coursework in gerontology or long-term care can help build relevant skills.
Get licensed
Pass the NCLEX-RN.
Build experience in long-term care
Gain experience as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a long-term care setting, such as a nursing home or assisted living community.
Advance your expertise
Certifications in gerontological nursing or care management can help you deepen your expertise and advance in long-term care.
Long-term care nurse career resources
Long-Term Care Nurse Association
Become a member of a long-term care nurse organization to find career opportunities, learn from your colleagues, and support the profession.
Student loans repayment (CMS.gov)
Get up to $40,000 in student loan repayment from a program offered through the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Related nursing specialties
-
Home health nurse
A home health nurse cares for patients in their homes, helping them with tasks that they can’t do themselves due to injury or disease, and providing relief to family members who may be primary caregivers. -
Hospice nurse
A hospice nurse takes care of terminally ill or injured patients at the end of their lives.
