Characteristics of registered nurses in nursing homes. Preliminary data from the 1985 National Nursing Home Survey.

Registered nurses work more often in other types of facilities or settings than in nursing homes. The typical RN working in a nursing home in 1985 was female, white, and married. RN's who work with the elderly tend to be older than the average RN. RN's on the staff of nursing homes in 1985 had a median age of about 45 years, and the majority had been working in their profession for 10 years or more. Studies have shown that nursing students associate negative stereotypes with caring for the elderly and that older health personnel, regardless of their profession, are more likely than their younger colleagues to view the elderly favorably (Feldbaum and Feldbaum, 1981; Smith, Jepson, and Perloff, 1982). Because the positions held most often by RN's who work full time in nursing homes are head nurse or supervisor or director of nursing, the actual hands-on care of the elderly is usually not performed by the registered nurse. That leaves the primary care of the elderly being provided by licensed practical nurses, licensed vocational nurses, and nurse's aides.