Career as a Nurse (RN) - Geriatric Nurse
In terms of both healthcare and overall care for the elderly, nurses have been on the forefront of pioneering efforts to make sure that the elderly are not forgotten, and that they receive the best overall care possible, whether they are in their homes, hospitals, retirement villages, or nursing care facilities. In modern healthcare, the geriatric nurse – a registered nurse who specializes in gerontology – is a core member of the healthcare team that provides services to the elderly. In fact, geriatric nurses are the healthcare professionals who provide the most hands-on care for the aged. They not only administer direct healthcare services but also make sure that the elderly’s other needs are met in areas such as family education, promoting health, disease prevention, and helping to organize both the medical and societal resources available for elderly patients.
In the United States, the number of older adults is exploding onto the healthcare scene. The fastest growing age group in America, elderly Americans (those 65 years of age and older) number 35 million, already accounting for one out of every eight Americans. By 2030, that number will be 70 million or more Americans – an estimated one out of every five people in this country! Today, the elderly already make up the largest group of patients seeking care in any kind of healthcare setting.
There are endless opportunities in geriatric nursing for making a difference in people’s lives. As a relatively new field, geriatric nursing offers its practitioners the chance to apply creative solutions to the needs of their patients, making a substantial difference in the quality of healthcare provided. There are few limits to what nurses specializing in gerontology can achieve. The elderly have complex healthcare needs, and the geriatric nurse can apply skills and knowledge in a broad range of traditional and nontraditional settings, from working in assisted living communities and rehabilitations centers to outpatient clinics, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
Geriatric nursing is one of the most exciting and challenging areas in healthcare today. It addresses the biological, psychological, and social changes associated with aging. As the Baby Boom generation continues to reach elderly status, there will clearly be a great demand for all types of healthcare professionals who specialize in gerontology, especially the geriatric nurse.
Working with the elderly gives geriatric nurses the opportunity to make a difference in both the lives of elderly patients and the family members who love them and often help care for them. Geriatric nursing also provides both a large degree of autonomy and a great diversity of opportunities.
Caring for the elderly is challenging and rewarding as they can provide unique perspectives based on a lifetime of varied experiences. If you think geriatric nursing may be right for you, read this report to find out more about the duties, education, and earnings in the field. This report also provides insights from those who are currently working in various areas of geriatric nursing.
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