Geriatric Staff Nurse

Nursing

Geriatric staff nurses focus on caring for older adults. As the U.S. population ages, this career is in high demand. According to the U.S. Census, by 2050 more than 20% of Americans—88 million people—will be over age 65. Yet less than 1% of registered nurses and 3% of advanced practice registered nurses are certified in geriatrics, according to the American Geriatric Society.

Geriatric nurses are educated to understand and treat the often complex physical and mental health needs of older people. They try to help their patients protect their health and cope with changes in their mental and physical abilities, so older people can stay independent and active as long as possible.

Geriatric nurses must enjoy working with older people. They must be patient, listen extremely carefully and balance the needs of their patients with sometimes conflicting demands from family members.

When working with their patients, a geriatric nurse will:

  • Assess the patient’s mental status and cognitive (thinking) skills
  • Understand patient’s acute and chronic health issues
  • Discuss common health concerns, such as falls, incontinence, changing sleep patterns and sexual issues
  • Organize medications
  • Educate the patient about personal safety and disease prevention
  • Explain and recommend adjustments to the patient’s medication regimen to ensure adherence
  • Link the patient with local resources as needed

Many older people have health conditions that do not require hospitalization, but must be treated with medication, changes in diet, use of special equipment (such as a blood sugar monitor or walker), daily exercises or other adaptations. Geriatric nurses help design and explain these healthcare regimens to patients and their families. They often function as “case managers,” linking families with community resources to help them care for elderly members.

The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has reviewed this profile.

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  • Average Salary

    $80K - 86K

  • Years Higher Education

    4 - 6

  • Job Outlook

    Excellent