Geriatric Nurse, Geriatric Nursing Schools, Training, Jobs, and Careers

What is Geriatric Nurse?
A Geriatric Nurse works with elderly adults to provide treatment and care for a variety of ailments and medical conditions. NurseWeek states that a geriatric nurse focuses on maintaining the mental and physical health as well as the functional abilities of her patients. These are some of the typical duties:

1. Administer medication
2. Educate patient and family concerning patient's condition
3. Perform diagnostic tests
4. Assist with rehabilitation
5. Record medical histories
6. Focus on development as well as implementation of treatment plans for a variety of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, respiratory disorders, hypertension and others
7. Assisting doctors during exams and procedures

Becoming Geriatric Nurse?
A nurse in geriatrics should concentrate on finding an accredited nursing school and attend it for four years in order to get her,LPN/LVN, associate degree, or Bachelor of Science in Nursing, BSN. She must also pass the NCLEX-RN, which is the "National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Inc" (NCSBN) that all nurses must pass in order to be able to use their skills. In 2008, the NCSBN reported that approximately 87% of educated candidates in the United States who held an associate's or bachelor's degree were able to pass this examination on the first try.

Those students who are considering a career in teaching, administration or specializing in geriatric nursing should definitely pursue a bachelor's program. Though it may be sufficient to enroll in a general nursing program, students should seek out programs that emphasize exposure to geriatric nursing. You should consider taking courses that combine both classroom instruction and clinical experience such as:

1. Anatomy
2. Physiology
3. Nutrition
4. Psychology
5. Chemistry
6. Physiology
7. Microbiology

Getting a Job as a Geriatric Nurse:
As the elderly population continues to grow, job opportunities are on the rise for geriatric nurses. If you listen to what the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics has to say, it reports that opportunities for home healthcare nurses are rapidly increasing not only due to the fact that there are a growing number of our senior citizens with functional disabilities but also because more and more elderly people do not want to lose their independence of living in their own homes. Opportunities in hospitals and long-term facilities are also on the rise.

A nurse in geriatrics may work in hospitals, long-term care facilities, senior citizen centers, clinics, community health centers and patients' homes.

Geriatrics Nurse Salary:
Geriatrics nurses make decent income. The national average pay is $85,000 per year. This depends on your location and years of experience. Also keep in mind that your pay will continue to increase as you gain more experience and years of service.

Geriatrics Nurse School:
Geriatrics nursing schools calls for a certain level of specialization. You can attend a school that offers LPN/LVN or RN to become one.

One such school is University of Phoenix. They have campus and online programs. In fact, they are the leading innovators in online education. Follow this link to visit and get their free information.

Return from Geriatric Nurse to Medical Assistants Schools and Careers