Geriatric Nurse

What a Geriatric Nurse Does

Geriatric nurses specialize in the care and treatment of the elderly. This often means knowing a great deal about age related ailments and disabilities, from arthritis to heart disease. They will help physicians and their patients work to develop treatment plans for any kind of chronic illness or disorders they may have. They will also spend a good deal of time working with the most personal aspects of nursing, comforting patients and their families and explaining in an easy-to-understand manner the ramifications of the illnesses from which these older adults might suffer. Geriatric nurses can be found working in hospitals and physician’s offices but are most common in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and community health centers. During a typical workday, they may be responsible for examining patients, administering medication, educating patients and family members and performing basic tests. This job can be stressful because of patient deaths and the demands of caring for patients who are chronically ill or who have dementia.

How to Become a Geriatric Nurse

To work as a geriatric nurse, individuals will need to complete a nursing degree program at the bachelor's or associate's level. This can be done through colleges, universities, vocational schools and community colleges. Training programs are composed of both classroom education where students learn about the basics of anatomy, illness and patient care and of clinical training where students will practice their skills and interact with real patients while under supervision. Those hoping to work in geriatric nursing will need to take some specialized courses in the field as well, to help them work with the special needs and challenges posed by working with the elderly community. Certain types of geriatric certification will require an additional two to four years of training in this field to be completed as well as passing an additional certification exam. Once a degree program has been completed, nurses can sign up to take a nursing licensing exam. This exam tests nurses to ensure they're ready to take on work in a real-life setting. Once licensing is complete, nurses are ready to work in the field of geriatrics.

Career Outlook for Geriatric Nurses

As the Baby Boomer generation ages and Americans are living longer lives, the demand for geriatric nurses is increasing. Nurses who enter this field should see steady job growth through 2018, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Nursing overall will see an increase but nurses who specialize in home health care can expect to see a growth of around 39%. Of course, this isn't the only avenue for geriatric nurses and those working in hospitals and nursing care facilities will see 22 and 20% rises respectively. While the field may require only four year training to enter into, those who hope to advance or gain additional job security will find that a master's degree and additional certification in the field of gerontology will help give their careers a boost.