Geriatric Nursing
Elderly patients need special care. They may suffer from the same illness as children or young adults, but their needs differ. Elderly patients are not as tolerable to medication as individuals in young and middle adulthood are. Their organs and bodily systems are no longer in their prime. It means that they are more susceptible to pressure sores, dehydration, etc. They may also have impaired vision and hearing abilities. All of these factors are considered and incorporated into geriatric care and into geriatric nursing.
What is Geriatric Nursing?
Geriatric nursing is a nursing specialization that deals with the care of Geriatric clients. It involves taking care of elderly patients with acute illness that need immediate care. Geriatric nursing also involves taking care of patients in long term care facilities and nursing homes.
The Fundamentals of Nursing by Kozier, Erb, Blais and Wilkinson defines Geriatrics and Geriatric Nursing as:
“Geriatrics is the term for the medical specialty that addresses the diagnosis and treatment of the physical problems of the elderly person. Nursing care of the elderly may be called geriatric, gerontologic, or gerontic nursing.”
Roles of a Geriatric Nurse
The Geriatric nurse has to fulfill several roles. These roles are as follows:
- DIRECT CAREGIVER. The geriatric nurse working as caregiver takes on the duties of caring for the patients immediate physical needs. This role involves giving the patient the necessary medication, carrying out doctors orders, assisting patients in Activities of Daily Living, etc. Direct care also calls for the nurse to assist the patient whenever necessary.
- COUNSELOR. Another role played by the Geriatric Nurse is that of a counselor. A percentage of geriatric patients are often depressed. This is especially true for patients who live in care homes and those that do not have contact with their families.
The geriatric nurse functioning as counselor must at all times practice Empathy. His/her emotional involvement should never go beyond that. A breech of this could result to problems for the nurse and the patient. The counseling role may also be extended to the patient’s family members who are worried about their loved one’s condition.
- EDUCATOR. Geriatric nurses also find themselves in the role of educator. They are the ones who impart health teachings to their patients. Geriatric nurses make sure that the patients and their families are aware of the patient’s needs and health status. Educators may also come in the form of Advance Practice Nurses (APNs) who have specialized in Geriatrics. APNs may take on the role of educating their fellow nursing staff. APNs in Geriatrics are also often called to be researchers.
These and other roles make up the daily activities of a Geriatric nurse. Other nursing roles include being a Patient Advocate, Nurse Managers, Staff Nurse, and so on. Some nurses also take a bigger role in Diagnostics and in patient nutrition.
Opportunities for Employment
The world’s population is aging. Children from the baby boomer generation are now just entering late adulthood and retirement. This means that more geriatric nurses are needed to take care of the generation in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s.
Nursing homes, Retirement Facilities and long term care units are popping up everywhere. These homes are filled with senior citizens who have chosen to live out their lives in a comfortable place that is equipped to take care of their needs. Each year, more and more nurses are hired to service these nursing homes. That translates into more work opportunities for nurses all over the world.
Aside from care facilities and retirement homes, geriatric nurses also find employment in various hospitals worldwide. These nurses are employed to work in hospital units that cater to geriatric patients suffering from acute and chronic conditions.
Geriatric nurses also find jobs as educators in teaching facilities, colleges, universities and NGOs. Highly qualified geriatric nurses may also be employed by organizations specializing in gerontoligical research.
Published at: 01/10/2015
