Geriatric Nurse/RN
(Aged Care)
Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs
A geriatrician is a doctor who specialises in care
of the elderly and the diseases that affect them
[geriatric medicine]. The approach tends to be
holistic and involves a multidisciplinary team. The geriatrician
concentrates on managing the medical conditions affecting the patient.
Geriatricians also tend to coordinate the team of allied health specialists
like physiotherapists and occupational therapists that ensure the patient is
in the best environment and is safe and supported in their social situation
whatever that may be.
ANZSCO ID: 253399
Specialisations:
Dementia, Psychogeriatrics, Palliative care
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Most geriatricians have expertise in dealing with people who have multiple conditions. Some of them specialise in particular areas, including dementia and rehabilitation.
- Broad knowledge of general
medicine as a foundation on which to build additional specialist
skills (success in FRACP clinical examination, CV demonstrating appropriate clinical
experience) - Empathy with older people
and willingness to act as their champion to ensure equitable and
appropriate access to health services - Interest in ageing and the interface between ageing and disease
- Willingness to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Commitment to learn to
communicate effectively with patients, families and other health
professionals - An appreciation of the
complexity of managing frail older patients, and willingness to take a
holistic approach to patient assessment and management. - Patience in dealing with
patients with communication problems due to sensory or cognitive
impairment - Willingness to work across
acute and subacute care settings, and within hospital and
community sectors. - A recognise the importance of research and audit for expanding
knowledge within the field of
geriatrics and for improving quality of care for older patients.
Geriatricians might help manage:
- dementia and other cognitive problems
- problems with mobility and frailty
- incontinence
- nutrition
- medicines
- other medical issues
(Source:
St John of God Health Care)
Duties and Tasks
- Provide supervision, teaching and support to junior medical staff
and medical students and lead
by example in behaviour and attitude. - Provide ongoing clinical care of patients including
appropriate and timely assessment and
management - Communicate empathetically and appropriately with patients and their families.
- Coordinate appropriate referrals to other speciality departments and services
- Formulate management plans
- Lead team meetings or family conferences
Working conditions
Geriatricians work in hospitals, clinics and residential aged care
facilities. They might also visit people in their homes.
Education and training/entrance requirements
A geriatrician has completed at least 3 years of specialist training in
geriatric medicine after becoming a doctor.
In Australia, most geriatricians are fellows of the Royal Australasian
College of Physicians, with the initials FRACP after their name.
Geriatric
nurse practitioners (NPs) are advanced practice nurses who specialize in
providing care to older adults. They may find work in general medical
settings, such as family clinics and hospitals, or they may work in
facilities focused specifically on care for the elderly, such as nursing
homes. In most states, they are qualified to consult with patients about
their current conditions, run diagnostic tests, analyze results, diagnose
conditions and come up with treatment strategies, including prescription
medications. Some geriatric nurse practitioners also conduct research in the
field, and they may advocate for policies that support the needs of elderly
patients.
Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners [AGNPs] hold responsibilities in between registered nurses (RNs) and physicians. They meet with patients independently and assess and diagnose illnesses and other conditions. AGNPs can either specialize in acute care or primary care. Acute care NPs attend to patients with chronic or critical conditions, while primary care NPs offer general healthcare services.
ANZSCO ID: 254411
Alternative names: Gerontological Nurse
Practitioner, Geriatric Clinical Nurse specialist,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Once a person reaches the age of 65, s/he will, on average, live for another 16.2 years for males or 20.3 for females, according to the ABS. For geriatric patients to achieve this level of longevity with minimal pain and/or discomfort, however, they will need highly attentive care from educated, experienced, and skilled adult-gerontology nurse practitioners. To maximize their effectiveness in treating these elderly patients, it is important that adult-geriatric nurse practitioners equip themselves with the following competencies, which will aid them in adapting to diverse patient circumstances.
-
Excellent Communication Skills
-
Excellent Interpersonal Skills
-
Ability to assess and diagnose patients
-
Critical thinking skills
Gerontology Nurse Practitioner
with Patient
(Source:
Australian Ageing Agenda)
Duties and Tasks
Your responsibilities as a geriatric nurse practitioner will be similar to
those of other advanced nurse practitioners. This can include providing
information on treatment and medications to patients and their families,
monitoring treatments and keeping detailed records of patient care. You may
also be responsible for supervising other nurses and hospital staff, as well
as providing supervision for standards of safety, care quality and patients'
rights.
As an advanced practice nurse with a graduate degree, you would be involved
in prescribing medicine and treatment, diagnosis and implementing the plan
of care. You may also consult with physicians and coordinate patient care
with other healthcare practitioners. Teaching patients and their caregivers
how to manage an illness, and, in some cases, administer certain treatments
at home may also be part of your duties.
As a geriatric nurse you may encounter patients who require long-term care for chronic illnesses, such as Alzheimer's or dementia, diabetes, kidney disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Some patients need palliative care to manage their disease and maintain quality of life throughout the term of the disease. Also, elderly patients may have more than one health issue, making care more complex. For instance, you would take into consideration the interactions of different medications taken by the patient.
Gerontological nurse practitioners provide restorative, preventative and
palliative care. Gerontological nurse practitioners may make visits to
homebound patients. Gerontological nurse practitioners employ disease
prevention and treatment strategies. They order and interpret diagnostic
tests while formulating diagnoses and evaluating care. Gerontological nurse
practitioners plan and implement individualized plans of care with respect
to patient needs, reimbursement restrictions, and available resources.
Gerontological nurse practitioners are instrumental in helping aging
patients and their loved ones to navigate complex healthcare and social
resources. They provide emotional support to caregivers supporting patients
with complex symptoms such sensory impairments, memory loss, and immobility.
Gerontological nurse practitioners facilitate patient and family decision
making regarding long term care, life support, end of life care, and organ
donation. They may conduct evaluations to see if elderly individuals are
able to drive or live independently.
Gerontological nurse practitioners educate professionals, caregivers, and
lay people about age related changes, safety precautions and community
resources which help elders maintain independence.
Gerontological nurse practitioners monitor health care of aged patients to
ensure that cost effective, excellent quality health care is provided. They
work with public and private insurance carriers to ensure reimbursement.
(Source:
Regis College)
Working conditions
You may pursue employment at a variety of healthcare environments, including
hospitals, private physician offices, hospice facilities, retirement
communities, or assisted living situations. Wherever you find employment,
the range of patient needs will vary greatly. Your position may require
transporting patients between institutions or between institutions and home.
Some patients will require minimal care, while others will be heavily
dependent on you for assistance. In addition to providing emotional support
to the patients and their families, your position may also require an
understanding of adult development and sympathy for the aging process.
Older adults can bring more life experience and certainty of their values to
illness and recovery but also more apprehension about the future. In caring
for these adults, you may need to respond to these concerns.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Following on from their Registered Nurse qualifications (4 year degree in Nursing), Gerontology Nurse Practitioner have a Master's degree or a Doctoral degree.
Employment Opportunities
As baby boomers age, the need for qualified gerontological nurse practitioners is expected to grow. People are living longer with serious chronic illnesses for extended periods of time. Care needs for the elderly are at an all time high in Australia. As a result, the occupational forecast for gerontological nurse practitioners is excellent.
Geriatric
staff nurses focus on caring for older adults. 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.
(Source:
Health Care Australia)
ANZSCO ID: 254412
Alternative names: Registered Nurse
(Aged Care), Gerontological Nurse,
Knowledge, skills and attributes
Being patient, understanding, empathetic, and compassionate, with a true desire to work with ageing patients are some of the attributes of a geriatric nurse. However, the work can also be frustrating or disheartening at times as well but geriatric nurses should also be able to handle stress and bounce back from depressing events, such as the death of a patient.
Geriatric patients often require more physical assistance as their bodies become more complex and complicated with their growing age. Patients in their end-of-life care can be stressful and exhausting which can drain nurses emotionally. Management of chronic illnesses, comorbidities, and medications needs a strong knowledge base and varied range of skills. Geriatric nurses needs to think critically and listen to the needs, wants, and feelings of the patient.
Loss of independence could also be a struggle with the elderly patients.
Some elderly patients might practice high level of independence, while
others would completely rely on their family for activities of daily living.
Thus, there are chances that they might fall into feelings of resentment,
embarrassment, or grief.
All ageing people are distinct in their pattern of thoughts, capabilities,
and world views. The physical strength, memory and senses keep declining
with the growing age. It’s imperative to keep an open mind and avoid
assuming regarding anything related to the patients. Every patient has their
own individual experiences and the lives they’ve lived so far.
-
Patience
-
Compassion
-
Empathetic
-
Strong Attention to Detail
-
Creative
-
Consistent
-
Cheerful
(Source:
Career FAQS)
Duties and Tasks
Geriatric nurses are required to keep patient records and coordinate with
the physician’s recommendations. They are not only accountable for patients
physical well-being, but for their mental and emotional well-being. There
may be times when these elderly patients will appear to be depressed or
angry, due to their deteriorating health, lack of freedom, and isolation
from their loved ones. As a geriatric nurse, you need to be watchful for
patients and try to remain cheerful and compassionate, even during these
challenging times.
Geriatric nurses should usually be encouraged to connect with patients’
family members. There’s always a need to explain about patient’s care
routine or medications or act as a link between the family members, the
patient, and the doctor.
When working with their patients, a geriatric nurse will:
-
Assessment of vital signs
-
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 and provide a safe environment such as prevention from falls or accidents
-
Educate the patient about personal safety and disease prevention
-
Organize medications and administrate medications and injections
-
Helping patients with their activities of living such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom
-
Assist in range of motion exercises and massaging
-
Observing for signs of abuse
-
Assisting physicians during exams and procedures
-
Transporting patients to doctor’s visits and other appointments
-
Making a nursing care plan for the patients based on the assessment
-
Educating family members about a patient’s condition
-
Promoting self-care skills
-
Oversee the nutritional needs of the patient
-
Maintain accurate and complete healthcare records
-
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.
(Source:
Australian College of Nursing)
Working conditions
Geriatric nurses work in a variety of practice settings such as hospitals,
nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, retirement
communities and patients’ homes. They often work as part of a care team that
includes physicians, social workers, nursing aides, physical and
occupational therapists and other caring professionals.
In hospitals, geriatric nurses tend to work with treatment teams that have
large older patient populations, such as outpatient surgery, cardiology,
rehabilitation, ophthalmology, dermatology and geriatric mental health
(treating older patients with psychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer’s,
anxiety and depression).
In rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, geriatric nurses manage
patient care from initial assessment through development, implementation and
evaluation of the care plan. They may also take on administrative, training
and leadership roles.
Education and training/entrance requirements
Completed a 3-year bachelor degree, or equivalent, in the area of nursing from a recognised university to become a Registered Nurse. You must hold a current professional registration as a Division 1 Nurse, or equivalent, with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or relevant regulatory body in applicant's home country.
You can then complete the Graduate Certificate of Nursing (Gerontology) and expand your skills in chronic conditions, dementia and end-of-life care for complex ageing populations.
After completing the Graduate Certificate of Nursing, there will be the option to take the credit from the courses and continue to complete the Graduate Diploma of Nursing or the Master of Nursing.
Employment Opportunities
Geriatric Nurses are in high demand in Australia.
Related Jobs
or Working with these Jobs
Material sourced
from
Health Direct [What
does a Geriatrician do;]
Queensland Health [Geriatric;
]
Nurse Journal [Geriatric
Nurse Career Overview;
Gerontology Nurse Practitioner; ]
Explore Health Careers [Geriatric
Staff Nurse; ]
Bodhi Learning Labs [Geriatric
Nurse; ]
University of Southern Queensland [Gerontology;
]
Learn.org [Geriatric
Nurse Practitioner; ]
Nursing Explorer [Gerontological
Nurse Practitioner; ]
Regis College [7
Skills GNP; ]
Your Career
[ Other
Specialist Physician ]
