Did you graduate lately from high school? Are you deciding on what course to take? Or perhaps you are changing careers and thinking of making a change? If you are still undecided on your next step, how about considering a career in the nursing field as a Geriatric Nurse Practitioner? In the United States, there is a continuous demand for nurses, making nursing one of the most lucrative fields in the country. Add to that an ongoing growing baby boomer population and you have an escalating demand for geriatric nurse practitioners.
What exactly is a geriatric nurse practitioner? The geriatric nurse practitioner provides care for and works with the elderly who are in transitional care units or hospitals. They are a major part of the care giving team composed of the family members, friends and other medical professionals. They work constantly with the patients and keep in touch regularly with their family members. Elder care requires collective effort from the geriatric nurse practitioner, the physicians, the other nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nursing assistants, and pharmacists. Not only do they provide preventive care, they must also deal with acute and chronic illnesses.
Collaboration is at the heart of the geriatric nurse practitioner practice. Most people do not realize that there exists a major difference between caring for the elderly and caring for the young. A geriatric nurse practitioner is aware of the difference in the manner of care required. They are there to help face the numerous challenges when working with the elderly - challenges that are faced not only by the immediate family, but by close friends as well.
It is, ultimately, a gratifying and rewarding career. It is definitely not for everyone. For starters, you must enjoy working with the elderly. You must understand that the patients are undergoing a lot of major changes themselves - changes that they are probably still adjusting to. It is up to you to make the transition smooth. Not only will you be their hands-on caregiver, you will also be the advocate for the medical issues and concerns. You become their spokesperson.
As such, it is necessary for you to have good communication skills, apart from excellent interpersonal skills. You should be able to work collaboratively with other people because you will be working with so many people in providing elder care. Most importantly, you have to be conscientious and precise in how you carry out your job. There is a lot at stake so you need to be accurate and precise, especially when dealing with the patients' medications and medical equipment. This extends to the paperwork required for elder care. Through it all, you must remain sensible and composed. It might not be for everyone, but it just might be for you.
What exactly is a geriatric nurse practitioner? The geriatric nurse practitioner provides care for and works with the elderly who are in transitional care units or hospitals. They are a major part of the care giving team composed of the family members, friends and other medical professionals. They work constantly with the patients and keep in touch regularly with their family members. Elder care requires collective effort from the geriatric nurse practitioner, the physicians, the other nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nursing assistants, and pharmacists. Not only do they provide preventive care, they must also deal with acute and chronic illnesses.
Collaboration is at the heart of the geriatric nurse practitioner practice. Most people do not realize that there exists a major difference between caring for the elderly and caring for the young. A geriatric nurse practitioner is aware of the difference in the manner of care required. They are there to help face the numerous challenges when working with the elderly - challenges that are faced not only by the immediate family, but by close friends as well.
It is, ultimately, a gratifying and rewarding career. It is definitely not for everyone. For starters, you must enjoy working with the elderly. You must understand that the patients are undergoing a lot of major changes themselves - changes that they are probably still adjusting to. It is up to you to make the transition smooth. Not only will you be their hands-on caregiver, you will also be the advocate for the medical issues and concerns. You become their spokesperson.
As such, it is necessary for you to have good communication skills, apart from excellent interpersonal skills. You should be able to work collaboratively with other people because you will be working with so many people in providing elder care. Most importantly, you have to be conscientious and precise in how you carry out your job. There is a lot at stake so you need to be accurate and precise, especially when dealing with the patients' medications and medical equipment. This extends to the paperwork required for elder care. Through it all, you must remain sensible and composed. It might not be for everyone, but it just might be for you.
About the Author:
Learning geriatric nursing care is a unique opportunity because you get the chance to work with a very specific market of people and you learn to cater to their needs. Studyinggeriatric nursing protocol takes someone who is kind, gentle, loves to listen and can uphold their professional demeanor at all times.
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