News :Bright Future Seen for Geriatric Nursing

Posted on Wednesday, July 29, 2009

According to projections by the U.S. Census Bureau, during the next two decades, more than 70 million Baby Boomers will retire, doubling America’s over 65 population. By 2030, these senior citizens will make up 20 percent of the country’s population with individuals over the age of 85 comprising the nation’s fastest growing population segment. Not only will America’s burgeoning elder population create unparalleled demand and employment opportunities in nursing and the healthcare industry, but it will turn the still-fledgling field of geriatric medicine into a principal player in the medical community. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, geriatric nursing is poised to become a valuable and highly-sought after medical specialty.

Substantial physiological and psychological differences exist between the elderly and younger adults. As the body ages, organ systems decline, which changes the way illness presents and the way the body responds to treatment. Medical conditions considered minor in younger adults, like dehydration and gastroenteritis, are susceptible to complications that can become life-threatening in the elderly. Treatment and medication protocols appropriate for younger adults may actually be harmful to the elderly. Psychological changes that occur with aging can also complicate medical treatment and interfere with the ability of elderly patients to follow treatment plans and medication schedules. Dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other issues may prevent the elderly from making decisions for themselves, necessitating attention to legal responsibility issues outside the usual jurisdiction of medical personnel.

Yet, because the need for medical care increases as we age, and because American society is growing older, medical providers will increasingly have to address these issues. According to 2008 statistics posted on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Web site, adults over 65 average six doctor visits a year, compared to 2.2 annual visits for adults aged 25 to 35. The CDC stated that adults over 65 also account for two-thirds of ambulatory primary care visits, half of all hospital stays, and three-quarters of home care visits. The American Hospital Association (AHA) also stated that 80 percent of Americans over the age of 65 already struggle with at least one chronic condition that requires managed medical care and by 2030, the AHA expects six in every 10 seniors – more than 35 million Americans – to be managing more than one chronic disease, and many will be coping with three or more chronic conditions.

It is a situation that promises exponential growth in the field of geriatric nursing across a wide range of healthcare settings: hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, community health centers, hospice and palliative care, and the rapidly growing field of home care. Depending on experience, nursing degree level, certifications, the type of facility, and its geographic location, salaries for geriatric nurses range from about $65,000 to $75,000, with the median salary around $70,000. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers three categories of certification for geriatric nurses:

• Gerontological Nurse Specialist requires two years of RN practice plus 2,000 hours of practice and 30 hours of continuing education in gerontological nursing in the past three years.
• Clinical Nurse Specialist in Gerontological Nursing requires inclusion of 500 hours of faculty-supervised clinical practice and course work in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology in gerontology.
• Gerontological Nurse Practitioner requires inclusion of 500 hours of faculty-supervised clinical practice and course work in advanced health assessment, advanced pharmacology, and advanced pathophysiology in gerontology, plus training across the life span in health promotion, disease prevention, differential diagnosis, and disease management.

Geriatric nurses work independently and with healthcare teams to develop and implement treatment plans, educate patients and their families about chronic disease, and provide compassionate care, comfort, support and friendship to patients and their families. Geriatric nursing offers nurses challenging and rewarding opportunities with excellent growth potential. In working with the elderly, many geriatric nurses rediscover the joy of providing the personal, compassionate care that first drew them to nursing.

The following appeared in an issue of Maxim’s nursing eNewsletter, Nursing Now. To receive news in your e-mail inbox each month, sign up today.