Hi there! I’m Kristin, a Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP) who made a big leap—leaving the world of skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) after 10+ years to work in the academic setting, a middle school!
My goal was always to work in geriatrics, but my desire to take on new challenges ultimately led me to my current role.
After talking to the Healthcare team at Mitchell Martin, it was great to understand that SLPs are asking the same questions before they accept a role. I know how much leaving for a new setting weighed on my mind.
After a really wonderful conversation with Jeff Beeks, Director of Recruiting for MMI Healthcare, he invited me to share my opinion to help people who are experiencing the same dilemma.
If you’re an SLP curious about these two very different environments, get ready! I’ve got three major differences to share from my experience, and they’ll probably surprise you.
From “Let’s Stay Safe” to “Let’s Have Fun!”
In the nursing home, my sessions were all about functionality. It’s serious business when you’re helping someone regain the ability to swallow safely after a stroke or communicate their needs when aphasia makes words hard to find. I loved helping my patients improve their quality of life, but there was always a sense of urgency. With family involved it makes hard conversations even more difficult when explaining that progress for their loved one isn’t guaranteed. It’s especially difficult communicating that insurance can deny a patient services, and most people can’t afford these services out-of-pocket.
Fast forward to the schools, and suddenly my focus was on creating an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Learning the paperwork involved was one of the more challenging aspects of my switch from the SNFs to the school system.
The mentality of the people also changed. Conveying my expertise and authority on the subject was a respect I needed to earn and constantly prove in the nursing homes. I understood it to be part of the role when working with an elderly, often fragile person. Add in their families who are scared or frantic from the sudden life change and you can see how overcommunicating is necessary.
In the schools the vibe is different. By the time the students have reached Middle School, some may have been receiving services (on an IEP) for several years, while others may have developed difficulties with language comprehension and need extra assistance. They know the rhythm of the meetings and what is expected for the most part.
Aside from learning the standard operating procedures, it is important to separate myself from their past experiences while building on their strengths and creating a stronger foundation in their areas of weakness.
Connecting on a real level is imperative. My therapy toolkit includes learning more about pop culture, finding new games to play, and using more technology to my advantage. We tend to forget that teenagers are still holding on to their youth. They need therapy to be engaging, and I quickly realized that fun equals progress! So, instead of teaching someone how to chew without choking, I am teaching my teenage patients new strategies to overcome their language impairments by playing games.
Offering an outlet to escape the pressure of daily school life, particularly with someone who has an extra need, is extremely rewarding. While focused on our goals, our conversations go beyond fixing an issue. It’s an opportunity for them to deepen their social awareness. You’re giving them tools that will last a lifetime.
Teamwork Makes the Dream Work
In the nursing home, my team was made up of nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians, physician’s assistants, occupational therapists, physical therapists, and dietitians. Most of our conversations revolved around keeping patients safe, “Can Mrs. Jones eat her favorite oatmeal again without choking?” or “Is Mr. Smith cognitively alert enough to use a walker to get to the dining room instead of his wheelchair?”
It felt like a tight-knit healthcare family, and I loved collaborating to solve problems.
In the schools, I’m part of a completely different kind of team. Now, I’m working with teachers, special education staff, paraprofessionals, and even parents at times. Our conversations are more about, “How can we help Joey improve his speech so he feels confident raising his hand in class?” or “What strategies can we use to help Brooke understand her classmates better in social settings?”
It’s rewarding in a different way, knowing that my work helps set kids up for lifelong success.
As I prepared to leave the SNFs, the best decision I made was reaching out to a variety of people to gain perspective. I ran mock sessions with SLP friends who had school experience. I leaned on social media channels to ask questions or watch educational segments. Participating in Continuing Education Classes to gain more knowledge and understanding of skills in the academic setting also helped. I also reviewed old study materials to familiarize myself with forgotten definitions or techniques.
This prepared me tremendously as the confidence in my abilities allowed me to focus on being the best teammate with the other therapists and educators in my school.
Community Beyond School
In the nursing home, community involvement is often centered around family. I’d work with patients to help them communicate with their loved ones, whether it was making Sunday phone calls easier or building a memory book filled with pictures of family members, familiar items in the building, or a few lists to stay on track with events happening daily. Therapy was about strengthening those precious personal connections that gave their lives meaning.
In the middle school setting, the community extends far beyond the classroom walls. These students are navigating sports teams, youth groups, and hangouts with friends at the mall (or, let’s be real, texting and gaming marathons). My position isn’t just to help them succeed at school—it’s to give them the tools they need to thrive in all the spaces where they’re forming their identity. Teaching social-pragmatic skills or helping them overcome communication challenges equips them to make friends, join clubs, and feel like they belong.
However, your involvement and impact aren’t just about your sessions. It’s how you interact with the entire student body. Dressing as the mascot – no matter how smelly the suit is! – going to important school nights and even socializing with your co-workers has an exponential impact on how you are able to do your job at the highest standards.
Showcasing your real personality builds trust. When your teammates and students trust you, that’s when the real impact happens.
What I Learned
Making the switch from nursing homes to schools taught me so much about being flexible and meeting my clients where they are—whether that’s a 90-year-old recovering from a stroke or a 12-year-old hitting his articulation sounds during a group project and building that confidence.
Both settings are challenging, rewarding, and full of moments that remind me why I became an SLP in the first place.
A year into this setting, I’ve already seen progress in my students, made lifelong friends, and faced challenges I never expected. But I wouldn’t change those experiences for anything.
Being an SLP, as my students say, is “low key fire”.
Why Mitchell Martin
I know a particularly fantastic person at Mitchell Martin, which is how I initially got connected with the Healthcare team.
I’m passionate about my career and, like any good therapist, I’m always trying to find ways to improve. Speaking with their recruiters to understand the market was tremendously helpful when I began to think about switching settings.
They were able to give me information about salary expectations, the best times of the year to apply, and resources on how to make me most marketable.
From there, I thought about all the questions I asked in interviews, the videos I watched, and the groups I joined and realized there was still a missing gap.
That’s when I decided to pitch this idea to Mitchell Martin.
I’m extremely thankful to Mitchell Martin for giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts and giving me the platform to let people know they can reach out with any questions.
Obviously, I highly recommend you connect with the team at Mitchell Martin. They can help your healthcare career or build your current team with incredible talent!