A Day in the Life of an APS Specialist: Nurse
 

By Beri Kari-Fonge, MSN-Ed., BSN, RN 

August 2025

If you’ve ever wondered what a day in the life of an adult protective services (APS) nurse looks like, you’re not alone. It’s a role that’s deeply human, constantly evolving, and — let’s be honest — not for the faint of heart. But for those who thrive on meaningful work and the opportunity to make a tangible difference, being an APS nurse is more than a job. It’s a calling.

Morning: Starting with Purpose

My day usually begins around 8 a.m. with some breakfast and a check of the day’s cases. Every day is different — which is part of the beauty of the role. I might have a scheduled home visit to assess an older adult reported to be experiencing neglect, or I may need to coordinate with a hospital social worker regarding a vulnerable adult discharged the night before.

What makes the APS nurse role so special is how we bridge health and safety. While caseworkers focus on the broader social picture, APS nurses bring a clinical eye: identifying untreated medical conditions, medication mismanagement, early signs of cognitive decline, or even subtle signs of physical abuse that others might miss.

Midday: In the Field, on the Front Lines

Visits are where the heart of the work happens. I may step into a home that’s cluttered and chaotic, where a senior lives alone with no electricity and little food. Or I may meet with a caregiver struggling with burnout. I assess not just the environment, but the whole person — their physical state, mental alertness, nutrition, hygiene, and access to medications and health care.

I often conduct basic health assessments, coordinate with primary care providers, and advocate for emergency care if needed. I may help link a client with a visiting nurse service or support the APS specialist in arranging temporary shelter or respite for a caregiver.

What I love most about this part of the job is it’s collaborative. APS nurses work shoulder-to-shoulder with social workers, law enforcement, attorneys, and mental health professionals. Together, we make safety plans that are realistic and compassionate.

Afternoon: Advocacy in Action

After field visits, I return to the office to document cases and follow up with community partners. Sometimes I’m calling pharmacies to verify prescriptions. Other times, I’m reviewing lab results or preparing to present a case to our multidisciplinary team. It's in these moments that you truly see how clinical expertise enhances the protective work APS does.

The Benefits for Clients and the Community

One of the greatest benefits of the APS nurse role is early intervention. We often catch health issues before they escalate. We help prevent hospitalizations. We provide dignity for adults who may feel forgotten. And we build trust with clients who might be hesitant to accept help. For many, we are the first sign that someone cares — and that can be life-changing.

APS nurses amplify the reach and impact of APS teams by addressing the medical side of self-neglect and abuse cases. They don’t replace social work — they enhance and support it, ensuring clients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right way.

Key Collaboration Points:

• Joint home visits: Nurses often accompany specialists to assess medical and environmental conditions together.
• Clinical insight: They help interpret symptoms, assess risks, and make real-time recommendations during visits.
• Documentation: Provide clinical documentation that strengthens referrals to health care services, supports emergency interventions, or justifies facility placement.
• Care planning: Work alongside caseworkers to develop holistic safety plans that include medical, functional, and social needs.
• Referral support: Help connect clients to home health, wound care, hospice, or programs like PACE or Medicaid Waiver.
   

Role of the Nurse 

The nurse will complete a full nursing assessment of the client and be responsible for assisting in connecting the client with services to assist the client in meeting any unmet medical needs. The following tasks should fall under the nurse’s responsibilities: 

• Conduct a full in-person nursing assessment of the client, including the assessment of the client’s Activities of Daily Living and any medical-related risk indicators or reported allegations
• Contact medical providers
• Request medical records
• Connect the client with medical providers, access to medications, referrals for adaptable medical equipment, and any other medical-related resources
• Assess for need of emergency medical treatment

Guidelines for Assignment of an APS Nurse Assessment 

The assignment of an APS nurse assessment will be decided by the Aging & Disability Intake  supervisor at the screening level or by an APS supervisor after a case has been assigned to a social worker. A social worker may request a nurse assessment through their direct supervisor. Cases appropriate for an APS nurse assessment may include, but are not limited to: 

• Clients with complex medical situations (for example, terminal illnesses, unmanaged diabetes, kidney failure, etc.)
• Clients with wounds or injuries
• Non-compliance with serious medical recommendations by clients/caregivers  
• Clients who discharge Against Medical Advice where severe medical risk is identified
• If after a nurse assignment was made at any point the nurse and social worker no longer think a nurse assessment is necessary, please consult with the direct supervisor and the nurse can then be removed from the case with a supervisor contact note.   
   

Final Thoughts

Being an APS nurse isn’t always easy, but it is deeply rewarding. You see the worst — and the very best — of humanity. You meet people where they are and you walk beside them as they find safer, healthier paths forward.

To my fellow APS professionals: thank you for doing this work. And to those considering the field — there’s room for you here, and your skills are needed now more than ever.


 

The APS Blog is updated regularly with posts from contributing authors and new publications from the APS TARC.

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