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Gerontology Nursing is a nursing specialty that focuses on the care of the elderly. Nurses may specialize in specific types of care, work in various settings, and provide physical and emotional support. Gerontological nursing associations offer certifications and qualifications, and employment prospects are good, but the field can be emotionally demanding.
Gerontology Nursing is a nursing specialty that revolves around the care of the elderly. You may also hear it referred to as “geriatric nursing,” depending on regional preferences. Specialists in this type of nursing typically attend nursing school to qualify as nurse practitioners and take additional courses to qualify as gerontological nurse practitioners. Some may choose to specialize in specific types of nursing in this field, such as nursing care for people with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia, or home care for the elderly.
This aspect of the nursing field covers a wide variety of contexts. A gerontology nurse may provide home care, as a resident or visiting nurse, or the nurse may choose to work in a nursing setting such as a hospital, residential facility or retirement home. These nurses may work as administrators, supervising other nurses and establishing policies that benefit their patients, or as practice nurses actually interacting directly with older adults.
In gerontological nursing, nurses do more than provide direct physical care to older adults in the form of dressing changes, medication administration, and other routine aspects of care. They also assist their patients with a variety of tasks, from navigating the corridors of a residential facility to learning to use specialized bathroom equipment. These nurses also keep a close eye on the mental health of their patients, aiming to provide both physical and emotional support as well as respectful care.
Several nursing associations focused on gerontological nursing can be found around the world. These organizations can offer certifications and additional qualifications to nurses who want to become more employable and also help set standards in the field. Some may conduct research, hold annual conferences, and be involved in other aspects of gerontology nursing as a career.
Employment prospects in gerontological nursing are generally quite good. Many older people are living longer than ever before and some require special care and attention which can be provided by gerontological nurses. Those interested in this field should be aware that it can be extremely emotionally demanding, as patients tend to die more frequently than in other fields of nursing. In some cultures, older adults may be essentially abandoned in retirement facilities, with little support from their families, which can be difficult for nurses. On the other hand, some family carers are extremely involved in the care of the elderly, and this can also be stressful for nurses, as they need to be able to cooperate and coordinate with caregivers and their patients.
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