The Importance of a Geriatric Nurse

• Define what a geriatric nurse, or gerontological nurse, is and what the goals are in this specialty. 
• Learn the facilities where geriatric nurses work and the benefits of these facilities.
• Understand the specific skills, such as recognizing cognitive decline, that help geriatric nurses in their specialty.  

Geriatric nurses are educated to treat and understand the often challenging and complex physical and mental health needs of older people.  They possess a unique role as they strive to assist their patients to manage their current state of health.  Geriatric nurses also assist with the changes that the older population faces in an effort for them to stay independent and active as long as possible.  

Definition of Geriatric Nursing

Geriatric nursing involves a field of nursing concerned with improving and maintaining the health of older adult patients.  Nurses who specialize in this field undergo specific education that teaches them how to care for older adult patients and understand their specific health needs.  These nurses are also known as geronotological nurses. 

Work Areas of Geriatric Nursing 

Geriatric nurses work in a variety of practice settings such as nursing homes, senior centers, hospitals, rehabilitation centers, assisted-living centers, retirement communities, and patients’ homes.  Due to the various areas to work, geriatric nurses can choose the area and environment that best suits each individual’s preference, which offers more flexibility for the nurse.   

Home health organizations also offer opportunities for geriatric nurses to provide services in various home settings which allows flexibility as well.  Typically, geriatric nursing provides many opportunities for growth and flexibility which make it extremely appealing to many nurses.     

Specific Skills Needed for Geriatric Nursing  

Some nurses are intimidated by the thought of caring for the elderly because of the complexity that it can entail.  Elderly patients often struggle with many health conditions at once.  Along with chronic health conditions, there are also age-related declines such as hearing loss, vision loss, and memory decline that can increase the difficulty in providing high-quality nursing care. Although it can seem daunting, caring for the elderly does not have to be as difficult as it may seem if one has the correct skills and knowledge.   

The following consists of some of the most important skills when caring for the elderly that will assist the nurse in providing high-quality nursing care and positive outcomes for their elderly patients: 

Empathy and Compassion

These are essential components when working with elderly patients and contribute to their health and happiness.  Caring for older patients can be physically and emotionally draining and it is important to be able to empathize with your patient’s situation and have compassion for their challenges.  Compassionate care helps elderly patients be more comfortable when they feel sick, struggle with mental or emotional issues, or are in pain, and being able to demonstrate empathy and compassion you can provide older patients with the support they need to face the challenges that go along with aging.  

Ability to connect and engage

Elderly patients typically have great stories and lessons to share if one is willing to take the time to listen.  Elderly patients typically enjoy sharing these stories and by lending an ear to them, one can improve their quality of life.   

Ability to recognize cognitive decline

The aging process may cause some people to misplace things or forget instructions, but symptoms of dementia can appear as normal age-related behaviors and be missed.  Being able to recognize early signs of dementia in older patients is vital to help slow the progression and improve outcomes.  Developing keen awareness and knowledge will allow one to help elderly patients maintain their independence longer.  

Patience

Patience is crucial when caring for elderly patients as their movements often become slower.  It can be very frustrating for the elderly patient to struggle moving as quickly as he/she used to and the frustration can intensify if the nurse or caregiver is rushing them.  Allowing the patient extra time, moving at their speed, and having patience is much better for positive patient outcomes.  

Understanding the Aging Process

Aging not only affects a geriatric patient’s ability to hear, see, and communicate, but it can also affect many other aspects of their lives. Geriatric patients often have multiple conditions to manage at once.  Having a thorough understanding of the aging process will equip geriatric nurses to handle the changes that occur. 

Adaptability and Flexibility

To help the geriatric nurse with overcoming the fluctuations that occur during the aging process, they must improve their adaptability and flexibility skills.  The elderly patient’s needs are ever-changing and are often complex and unpredictable.  The patient may have good and bad days and by having a flexible approach to caring for them will assist in achieving positive healthcare and nursing outcomes.  

Communication Skills

Communication is one of the most fundamental skills needed to be a successful nurse in any specialty, but it is especially important when caring for the elderly population.  Many elderly patients struggle with vision, hearing, and memory loss related to the aging process or as a result of a chronic illness and these challenges make communication more difficult for the elderly patient.  The nurse may need to speak louder or use hand gestures when communicating with them.  If a patient struggles with vision, one may need to provide large print materials or use brighter lighting when communicating with them.  As a geriatric nurse, it is important to explain things in a way the elderly patients can understand.  It is equally important to be able to listen to any concerns they may have. Blocks in communication interfere with treating the patient’s healthcare needs and can result in overall health decline.  Making communication a priority will serve the geriatric nurse well in achieving positive end goals for the patient.  

Non-verbal Communication Skills

It is important to note that what the elderly patient does not say is just as important as what they do say.  Being mindful of the patient’s body language is important when caring for them because body language can give you essential clues as to what is happening with their health.  Elderly patients are not always vocal about their concerns, especially if they struggle to communicate due to an age-related or health-related decline.  As a geriatric nurse, being aware of non-verbal cues may be the only way to identify if the patient is ill or experiencing a new health problem that requires medical intervention.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, providing nursing care to the elderly population can seem intimidating if one has never done it.  If you have an interest in caring for the aging population and can adapt and improve the skills listed in this article, being a geriatric nurse will become easier with time.  The complexity that comes with caring for geriatric patients will also help you grow skills and expand one’s knowledge as a nurse.  Being able to achieve positive outcomes in a complex situation is very rewarding in geriatric nursing and will also grow your confidence as a nurse in this specialty area.  

Read More