POSITION SUMMARY : Critical Care - Manages critically ill patients ages 14 through elderly adults. Complete management of medication and intravenous therapy. Support patient's vital signs by safely titrating medication. Manages equipment used to monitor multiple physiologic systems, including ventilators, intra-cranial pressure (ICP) drains, arterial lines, Swan-Ganz catheters, and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP). Maintains eight (8) hours of stroke specific education yearly. Accountable for the observation, assessment, intervention, evaluation, rehabilitation, or health teachings of a person who is ill, injured, infirm, or experiencing a change in normal health processes; the maintenance of health or prevention of illness; the administration of a medication or treatment as ordered by a physician, the supervision or teaching of nursing; the administration, supervision, and evaluation of nursing practices, policies, and procedures; the performance of an act delegated by a physician and the development of the nursing care plan. JOB DETAILS : Full time Dayshift, 6:30a-7p. May rotate weekends POSITION QUALIFICATIONS : Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Veterans/Disabled B.S., Diploma or Associate Degree in Nursing. Current RN License issued by Texas State Board of Nurses Technical, clerical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills relevant to patient care/area Certification requirements as defined by the certification policy Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing Basic Cardiac Life Support (BLS) - REQUIRED prior to patient care Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) - REQUIRED prior to patient care National Institute of Healthcare Stroke Scale (NIHSS) Certifications - REQUIRED 90 days after Date of Hire Able to communicate effectively in English, both verbally and in writing PREFERRED : ICU/CCU experience National Certification as recognized by the American Nurses Credentialing Center Bilingual or Multilingual Houston's oldest hospital is GROWING! Welcome to St. Joseph Medical Center (SJMC), Houston's first and only downtown hospital delivering world-class care for the last 137 years and looking forward to the next century of exceptional care to Houstonians when they need us most. Whether it's for a scheduled surgery, the birth of a baby, an unexpected emergency, or an outpatient visit, we have staff available around the clock to provide you access to immediate, quality health care. SJMC has been providing health care services to Greater Houston residents for over 130 years, which should give you great comfort in knowing that we have a great tradition of caring for our community. We strive to meet our patients' expectations and encourage our patients to provide us with feedback on how we can help them have the best experience possible while they're in our care. Over the last years we have expanded our services to include the Advanced Wound Care Center, Comprehensive Cardiac and Vascular Services, the Women's Center, the St. Joseph Maternal Fetal Medicine Center, and a Weight Loss Surgery Program, just to name a few. As you work with our physicians, nurses, case managers, educators, and other staff, you will be guided through your health care journey, from diagnosis to treatment, with compassion every step of the way. Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging are at the foundation of the care St Joseph Medical Center provides to our community we are privileged to support in all of our employment practices. We do not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression or any other non-job-related characteristic.
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General overview for this role type — specific duties and requirements vary by employer.
Nursing roles in senior living are fundamentally different from hospital nursing. Most positions involve building long-term relationships with the same residents over months or years rather than cycling through new patients every shift. Facilities in the Houston area typically require an active Texas RN or LVN license, current CPR/BLS certification, and many prefer at least one year of geriatric or long-term care experience.
Shift patterns vary widely — some facilities run traditional 8-hour shifts (day, evening, night), while others use 12-hour rotations. Weekend and holiday coverage is almost always part of the schedule. The nurse-to-resident ratio in assisted living is generally more favorable than in hospitals, but you will likely be the highest-level clinical staff on the floor during your shift, which means more autonomy and more responsibility for clinical judgment calls.
What to Expect in This Role Day-to-Day
Based on typical senior living facilities in the Houston area.
A typical shift starts with medication pass and resident assessments. You will review overnight notes from the previous shift, check vitals for residents on your watch list, and coordinate with CNAs on any changes in condition. Mid-shift usually involves documentation, family communication, and working with physicians on care plan updates — often by phone or telehealth rather than in-person rounds.
Depending on the facility, you may also handle admissions paperwork, manage wound care, supervise medication techs, and respond to emergencies. The documentation load in senior living is significant — state surveys and compliance requirements mean thorough charting is non-negotiable. Many nurses in this setting say the most rewarding part is knowing their residents personally and being able to notice subtle changes that a rotating hospital nurse might miss.
Houston Area Salary Data
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Registered Nurse positions in the Houston metro area earn a median wage of
$47.02/hr ($97,802/yr).
The typical range is $38.29 – $50.95/hr
(25th–75th percentile).
Entry Level (10th)$69,368/yr
Houston Median$97,802/yr
Experienced (90th)$125,320/yr
vs. National Median+4.5%
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment & Wage Statistics (Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX Metro Area).
Salary data provided by Houston Senior Living Guide.