Geriatric Nurse Career Overview
Geriatric nurses collaborate with doctors and healthcare professionals to provide care for elderly patients, focusing on their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 
Their goal is to help seniors maintain their independence and quality of life. These healthcare experts, who are registered nurses (RNs), possess specialized knowledge and skills to address common health issues that affect the elderly. This guide offers insights into educational requirements and salary expectations for those considering a career in this in-demand nursing specialty.
Time Required:
Typically, it takes 4-6 years to become a geriatric nurse.
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Job Opportunities:
The job outlook for registered nurses (RNs), including geriatric nurses, shows a positive trend with a projected 7% growth from 2019 to 2029.
Average Earnings:
The average earning potential for geriatric nurses is around $67,530.
Source: PayScale
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner Career Overview
Requirements:
Geriatric Nurse Role in Brief
Geriatric nurses partner with healthcare professionals to provide comprehensive care for elderly patients, addressing their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. They focus on maintaining the independence and quality of life for seniors. As registered nurses (RNs), they have specialized knowledge and skills to manage common health issues in the elderly population. Some of their key responsibilities include:
Primary Responsibilities:
– Developing treatment plans and administering medications.
– Educating patients and their caregivers on coping strategies for age-related conditions.
– Providing treatment for chronic conditions commonly affecting the elderly, such as heart disease, arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.
– Monitoring for signs of elder abuse.
– Assisting and training patients in daily living activities, including hygiene, toileting, and medication management.
Career Traits:
– Understanding of the aging process and disease progression.
– Ability to recognize both verbal and nonverbal communication cues.
– Compassion.
– Patience.
Where Do Geriatric Nurses Work?
Geriatric nurses specializing in the care of elderly patients typically find employment in various healthcare settings, including hospitals and medical clinics. Additionally, they work in nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and home healthcare, providing essential services to seniors.
Hospitals:
In hospitals, geriatric nurses implement treatment plans, administer medications, and educate patients and families about care options.
Nursing Homes:
In nursing homes, these nurses provide full-time healthcare, assist with personal needs and rehabilitation, and monitor patients for bedsores, infections, or other conditions.
Home Healthcare:
In home healthcare, geriatric nurses assist patients in recovering from surgery and caring for those with chronic conditions, such as dementia or paralysis. They may also help with personal hygiene and nutritional needs while collaborating with families to provide the best level of care.
Why Choose a Career as a Geriatric Nurse?
While the profession of geriatric nursing often involves physically demanding and challenging tasks, it offers personal and professional fulfillment by providing vital healthcare services and improving the quality of life for the aging population.
Advantages of Becoming a Geriatric Nurse:
– Rewarding work in patient-focused care and advocacy.
– Assistance in maintaining the quality of life for patients through preventive care and wellness education.
– Development of high pharmacological and treatment skills while working with patients taking multiple medications for various conditions.
– Growing job opportunities and salary potential, particularly for RNs with graduate training and certification.
– The potential to build strong relationships with patients and their families in long-term care facilities and nursing homes.
Disadvantages of Becoming a Geriatric Nurse:
– Physically demanding duties, including lifting, turning, and bathing bedridden or immobile patients.
– Heavy workloads and understaffing in hospitals serving a high elderly population.
– Challenges in communicating with and treating patients suffering from cognitive impairments and dementia.
– Increasing paperwork related to government regulations and insurance claims, especially for RNs working in nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
– Potential burnout from caring for end-of-life patients and those with untreatable or rapidly declining conditions.
How to Become a Geriatric Nurse
To pursue a career as a geriatric nurse, follow these steps:
1. Earn an associate degree in nursing (ADN) or a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN).
– While an ADN qualifies students to apply for licensure, most employers prefer to hire RNs with BSN degrees. Students may also take advantage of RN-to-BSN bridge programs or accelerated degrees designed for non-nursing majors, which can be completed in less than four years.
2. Pass the NCLEX-RN to receive RN licensure.
– Graduates of ADN or BSN programs must apply to take the National Council Licensure Examination for RNs (NCLEX-RN) through their state’s nurse licensing board.
3. Gain bedside nursing experience.
– Employers typically require geriatric nurses to have completed clinical work experience in critical care and/or to earn certification. This typically entails two years of post-RN geriatric nursing experience.
4. Consider earning a Gerontological Nursing Certification.
– The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers a voluntary Gerontological Nursing Certification recognized by employers as a reliable assessment of RN entry-level skills and knowledge in the gerontological specialty. For certification, RNs must complete 2,000 hours of geriatric nursing and 30 hours of continuing education.
Geriatric Nurse vs. Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Geriatric nurses often enter the field with an RN license, while adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (NPs), as advanced practice registered nurses, must hold a master’s degree and specialized certification.
Geriatric Registered Nurse:
– Requirements: ADN or BSN degree and a valid RN license; may pursue voluntary gerontological certification.
– Work Settings: Typically employed in hospitals, nursing homes, skilled long-term care and assisted living facilities, and home healthcare.
– Responsibilities: Provides bedside care, assists the healthcare team during medical exams and procedures, administers medications, serves as a liaison between patients and other healthcare professionals, and educates patients and caregivers on treatment options.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner:
– Requirements: Master of science in nursing; certification and license as an NP with possible specialization in various fields, such as diabetes and palliative care.
– Work Settings: Offers a full range of services for adults across the lifespan from adolescents to the elderly and can work in private practice, in addition to other healthcare facilities.
– Responsibilities: May provide services independently of direct physician supervision, depending on state NP licensing regulations.
How Much Do Geriatric Nurses Make?
The aging population is growing, and by 2030, the demographic of those over 65 will exceed 82 million. This demographic shift will positively impact the demand for geriatric nurses, as the expanding elderly population seeks various primary and preventive healthcare services.
While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) does not differentiate between RN specialties, RNs can expect an overall job growth of 7% between 2019 and 2029, with more opportunities available for those with certifications. Based on salary data from PayScale, RNs with geriatric skills earn an average income of $67,530, which is slightly below the overall median salary of $75,330 for all RNs as reported by the BLS. Certifications can significantly enhance geriatric nurse salary levels and job prospects.
For State-Specific Salary Data and More Information:
Questions About a Career as a Geriatric Nurse
What is the Role of a Geriatric Nurse?
Geriatric nurses help elderly people with their health. They check important signs, give medicine, and work with other medical people to make care plans. They also assist with everyday tasks like getting dressed and tell patients about their health.
How Long Does It Take to Become a Geriatric Nurse?
To become a geriatric nurse, you can start after finishing a two-year associate degree or a four-year BSN and getting an RN license. You can become even better by getting a gerontological nursing certificate, which needs two years of experience and 2,000 hours in gerontological nursing.
What Do You Need to Be a Geriatric Nurse?
Being a geriatric nurse needs a valid RN license and learning about things like diseases, medicines, and caring for people. You also need to work in hospitals, clinics, and places for the elderly. Some nurses get a special certificate in gerontology to be even better.
Who Takes Care of Older People?
Older people get help from licensed practical/vocational nurses (LPNs/LVNs) and certified nursing assistants. They work in nursing homes and homes. But in hospitals and places for older people, they like to hire RNs with BSN degrees and sometimes a certificate in gerontology. Some nurses with advanced training can help adults of all ages.
Useful Organizations for Geriatric Nurses
Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association
GAPNA was started in 1981. It helps nurses who take care of older people to learn and get better. Members get newsletters and online resources. They also have a special certificate called Gerontological Specialist-Certified (GS-C) that needs 2,500 hours of work with older people.
American Geriatrics Society
AGS wants to keep old people healthy and happy. They have programs and information for medical people and the public. You can find information on their website, HealthinAging.org.
Eldercare Workforce Alliance
EWA is a group of 35 organizations working together to make sure older people get the right care. They want more people to work in healthcare, make sure old people have insurance, and get help for mental health.
American Assisted Living Nurses Association
AALNA is for nurses who work in places where older people live. Members get discounts for events and insurance. They also have a test for nurses to show they are good at taking care of people in these places.
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