I've been a nurse for 20 years in care homes and they vary. They're always very busy and you're often working short staffed. Professional development opportunities vary from employer to employer.
Elderly service users can be a challenge to care for due to dementia or not being very nice to the staff. I prefer a younger demographic now which also includes people with LD which I enjoy. Palliative care is also very rewarding too and doesn't have to be depressing, but some people would prefer not to work in a hospice.
Look at hospice or younger disabled services along with elderly care homes. Perhaps sign up for bank work in one or two before taking a permanent job as the bad ones can be a nightmare to work in and also put your PIN at risk. Some managers are incompetent, lazy or downright psychopathic, so do your research. A high staff turnover and frequent sickness are warning signs. Look for a manager who is engaged, intelligent and positive.
Pay is improving due to nurse shortages, but there's no enhanced hours for nights or weekends or even bank holidays. You often get pressurised to cover shifts at short notice, but mainly in the poorer performing homes.
These days, the care home clientele are far frailer with complex disability and care needs than they were even ten years ago. As a nurse you have to be very on the ball for signs of deterioration or difficulty and there's not always medical backup, particularly at weekends/nights/bank holidays. Some of the relatives can also have unrealistic expectations and some will try and cause problems for the home, so document everything, cover your back and report anything untoward.
I love my job and I have a great manager and colleagues. I love making a positive difference to the service user's lives and seeing them smile and do things they enjoy doing.