What does a long-term care nurse do?
A long-term care nurse cares for residents in nursing homes and assisted living: managing medication and chronic conditions, supervising aides and coordinating with families and doctors. Both RNs and LPNs work in this setting.
The staffing mix
Long-term care relies heavily on LPNs and nursing assistants. In May 2025, the BLS counted 648,410 LPNs at a median of $64,400, and the median RN earned $97,550. Federal nursing home rules require a registered nurse on duty for at least eight consecutive hours a day, and the director of nursing must be an RN. See LPN versus RN.
Why it is a common start
Facilities hire new graduates and LPNs, so it is an entry point for a nurse who needs to start working quickly. Nurses often move to supervisory roles early. Federal rules also require nursing assistants to complete at least 75 hours of training.
Demand
The BLS projects 3% growth for LPNs and 5.6% for RNs from 2025 to 2035, and nursing assistants 2.6%.
Pay and projections: Bureau of Labor Statistics. NCLEX figures: NCSBN. Enrollment: AACN. Sources and years are ondata sources.