Registered nurse (RGN) jobs in care homes and nursing homes
Registered general nurses (RGNs), now registered in adult nursing, lead the clinical care in nursing homes. On many shifts the nurse is the only registered clinician in the building, making decisions about medicines, wounds, deterioration and end of life care.
We recruit RGNs for nursing homes and care homes with nursing, and check every nurse’s NMC registration before they are introduced or supplied.
The registered nurse role at a glance
- Duties
- Assessments, care plans, medicines, wound care, clinical observations, end of life care, contact with GPs and hospitals, and leading the care team.
- Shifts
- Long days and long nights, with earlies and lates in some homes.
- Checks
- NMC register entry, PIN, expiry and any conditions; revalidation date; the adults’ criminal record check; references from recent nursing posts.
- Pay basis
- Hourly for temporary cover, salaried for permanent posts.
- Qualifications
- Current NMC registration as a registered nurse, usually in adult nursing.
What a nurse in a care home does
A nursing home nurse assesses residents, writes and reviews care plans, gives medicines including controlled drugs, manages wounds and catheters, and spots early signs that someone is becoming unwell.
Because GPs and hospital teams are not on site, care home nurses make many clinical judgements alone and lead the care assistants on shift. The work suits nurses who like continuity with the same residents and families.
Nurse registration and agency rules in each nation
Nursing registration is UK-wide: every nurse must be on the NMC register and revalidate every three years. What differs between the nations is how temporary nurse supply is regulated:
- England
- Supplying registered nurses to another provider is not a CQC-regulated activity. The nursing home registers with the CQC.
- Scotland
- An agency that supplies or introduces nurses is a nurse agency, which must register with the Care Inspectorate.
- Wales
- There is no separate registration for nurse agencies. The care home registers with Care Inspectorate Wales.
- Northern Ireland
- An agency that supplies nurses is a nursing agency, which must register with RQIA.
Checks we run for registered nurses
Before we introduce or supply a nurse, we check:
- the NMC register: PIN, the part of the register, the expiry date and any conditions or cautions on practice
- the date revalidation is due, so no booking runs past it
- identity and right to work, including any visa conditions
- an enhanced DBS check with the adults’ barred list in England and Wales, PVG membership in Scotland, or an enhanced AccessNI check in Northern Ireland
- references from recent nursing posts, and clinical skills such as syringe drivers, PEG feeds and catheterisation
Shifts nurses usually cover in care homes
Many nursing homes staff nurses on twelve-hour long days and nights, which means fewer handovers. Some use earlies and lates.
- Long day to
- Waking night or to or
- Early to or
- Late to
How nurse pay is set
Temporary nurses are paid by the hour, with rates agreed for each type of shift before you accept it. Permanent nurse posts are salaried, and we tell you the salary and benefits before you apply.
The National Living Wage, £12.71 an hour from 1 April 2026 according to GOV.UK, is the floor for every worker. Nurse rates are set well above it by the market and the service.
Where registered nurses work in social care
In social care, RGNs mostly work in nursing homes and care homes that provide nursing.
- Nursing homes Care homes that provide nursing care, with registered nurses on the rota day and night.
- Care homes Residential homes where people live with care and support around the clock.
- Mental health services Care homes, supported accommodation and community support for people with mental health needs.
Questions about nursing work in care homes
I’m a newly qualified nurse. Can I work in a nursing home?
Yes. Some homes offer a preceptorship programme for newly registered nurses. Tell us about your placements and the support you are looking for, and we will look for a home that offers it.
Can you place me in Scotland or Northern Ireland?
Permanent nursing jobs, yes. Temporary nurse supply in Scotland and Northern Ireland has to go through a registered nurse agency, so we will tell you honestly what we can offer there before you apply.
Do you check my revalidation?
Yes. We record your revalidation date from the NMC register and remind you before it is due, because a lapse means you cannot work as a nurse.
Register for nursing work
Send us your details with your NMC PIN, or phone the office.