A geriatric nurse is a nurse who specializes in caring for the elderly. A variety of services may be provided by this type of nurse, including caring for patients with acute and chronic conditions, assisting those with injuries, assisting with surgery preparation, and caring for patients after surgery. A person working in this field may work with both elderly patients with physical conditions and those with mental health or clarity issues. Geriatric nurses also assist patients and their families with education and support.
Nurses who work with the elderly are given special training to help them meet their needs. They frequently work with patients who have lost some mobility or who suffer from chronic pain, for example. They may also help patients who have lost their ability to hear or see as well as they once did. Geriatric nurses frequently assist patients who are having difficulty controlling their bladders or remembering events. However, their responsibilities are not limited to caring for people with such conditions and difficulties; they may also provide care for a variety of other conditions.
Assisting a doctor as he examines patients or performs procedures is part of a geriatric nurse’s job. This type of nurse may also administer medications and perform tests on patients, such as blood tests, as directed by a doctor. Geriatric nurses may also assist in the development of patient care plans and teach both patients and their loved ones about medical conditions and how to care for them at home. They also offer assistance to people who are making necessary lifestyle changes or dealing with difficult diagnoses.
A geriatric nurse can work in a variety of settings. Some work in hospitals, urgent-care centers, and other medical-related settings. Others work in assisted living facilities, nursing homes, rehabilitative centers, adult daycare centers, and rehabilitative centers. A geriatric nurse may even be able to work in the home of a patient.
A person who wants to work as a geriatric nurse in many places must have completed high school or earned an equivalent to a high school diploma. He can then pursue a nursing diploma or degree at a nursing school or college. A diploma or an associate’s degree in nursing, for example, is required to become a registered nurse. Some aspiring nurses, on the other hand, pursue bachelor’s or master’s degrees in order to increase their opportunities. To practice nursing, an aspiring geriatric nurse must usually pass a jurisdiction-approved licensing exam after earning a degree or diploma.