Geriatrics is a field of medicine that deals with the care of older adults. Due to their fragile health, elderly individuals often need special care, because a minor health-related issue can rapidly become a serious issue for senior patients.
Geriatric nurses help elderly patients with a variety of medical needs. As the number of older adults in Canada increases, the need for this type of specialized nursing care grows.
Nursing Older Adults
Though most nurses will inevitably care for older adults during their general course of practice. However, it takes a special type of person to work in this field, because the work can be frustrating or disheartening at times.
Geriatric nurses always keep in mind that the aging process affects everyone differently because while some elderly patients are somewhat content or even happy-go-lucky, others may be sad, scared, or even angry as their health fails.
What Do Geriatric Nurses Do?
According to the website DiscoverNursing.com, geriatric nurses help patients and their families understand the aging process and how preventative care can make a difference in their quality of life.
What else can they do?
• Measuring and recording vital signs
• Administering medications
• Exercising and massaging patients
• Watching for signs of elder abuse
• Transporting patients to doctor’s visits and other appointments
• Helping patients with their daily needs, such as bathing, dressing, and using the bathroom
Throughout all of this, geriatric nurses also keep accurate patient records and coordinate your care with your patients’ physicians’ recommendations.
They are often responsible for their patients’ physical well-being and their mental and emotional well-being. Oftentimes, elderly patients will seem morose or angry due to reasons such as their failing health, lack of independence, and isolation from their loved ones.
Geriatric nurses are generally upbeat and cheerful people.
They are patient, understanding, empathetic, and compassionate, with a true desire to work with aging patients.
