As baby boomers are set to become the biggest senior population the world has ever seen, the need for nurse practitioners has never been greater. We now need a healthcare system that can meet the needs of older adults, despite the fact that there is only a small nursing workforce ready to take on the challenge.
According to a 2012 report by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, geriatric nurse practitioners only make up 3.2% of all practicing nurse practitioners. Startlingly, though, the U.S. Census Bureau predicts that by 2030 the number of adults meeting the criteria for geriatric care will be hovering around 72 million people. If ever you were considering a career as a geriatric nurse or nurse practitioner, now is the time.
Because of the large skill set required for geriatric care, it is best to plan ahead – even better to begin thinking about a career in geriatrics before you’ve begun nursing school. Gerontological nurse practitioners (GNPs) hold master’s degrees, post-master’s certificates, and even doctorate degrees specific to geriatrics. While overall credit and clinical requirements do vary, it is important to focus on training and classes with an emphasis on the care of older adults. When scheduling externships in clinical locations, you may also want to work at a site that allows you extra experience with older patients.
It is worth noting that in 2012 the Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Advisory Committee moved to eliminate gerontological nurse practitioner as its own licensing track. Today, those who desire to work within geriatrics must pursue certification as an Adult Gerontology Acute Nurse Care Nurse Practitioner or as an
Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. This allows future GNPs the ability to deal with younger patient health as well. GNPs do have unique responsibilities, however, sometimes beyond what is usually expected from a LPN. These responsibilities can range from helping patients with their insurance to calming fears and explaining which treatments are necessary and which are not. Many seniors need help translating complicated medical terminology and if they’re aging alone, they may need someone to advocate on their behalf for the best care possible.
Beyond these abstract duties, the skill set needed for a GNP can be organized into categories: Patient Care, Treatment Planning, Patient and Family Education, Mental Health, Rehabilitation, and Long-Term Care. Depending on where you’re working, the duty and skill requirements can also change. For example, a nurse practitioner working in a long-term care facility will have different duties than a GNP working in a clinical setting.
Demand for GNPs is currently high in outpatient clinics, palliative care groups, home health groups, and private practices. The healthcare industry needs individuals who are ready to tackle the complex needs of our growing senior population. While the job can be overwhelming at times, it is surely gratifying. Working with patients from diverse backgrounds while addressing a major health need is a unique and rewarding opportunity.
Article by Max Gottlieb / Content Manager at Prime Medical Alert & Senior Planning
Learn more about Senior Planning: https://www.seniorplanning.org
Recent Comments