Geriatric nursing is a special area of nursing that focuses on improving and maintaining the health of older adult patients. Nurses in this field are trained to understand and care for the specific health needs of older adults. They are also known as gerontological nurses. These nurses provide care to a vulnerable group, helping to improve their quality of life.
They know that what might be a minor issue for younger adults can quickly become serious for older adults. Their job is to manage these risks and provide comfort to their patients.
What Does a Geriatric Nurse Do?
The duties of a geriatric nurse fall into three main areas: patient care, health assessment, and patient advocacy.
1. Patient Care
Elder Care often have difficulty taking care of themselves. Geriatric nurses help with daily activities to ensure their patients’ basic needs are met. Some of their tasks include:
- Helping patients with everyday activities like bathing, dressing, and eating
- Encouraging patients to do as much as they can on their own to help them feel independent
- Giving medications according to the care plan
- Helping with exercises and therapies, like limb massages, to improve movement
- Creating and managing care plans tailored to the patient’s specific health needs
2. Health Assessment
Geriatric nurses work with other healthcare professionals to identify and treat health issues that affect older adults. Some of their roles include:
- Assisting doctors with physical exams and checking mental health and cognitive abilities
- Recognizing common issues in older adults, such as memory loss, incontinence, and sleep problems
- Checking if patients can perform daily tasks and take care of themselves
- Monitoring patients daily to make sure care plans are still suitable for their needs
- Keeping detailed records of the patient’s health and vital signs
3. Patient Advocacy
Older adults may have trouble making decisions about their own health, especially if they have mental health issues. In such cases, geriatric nurses act as advocates for their patients. They do the following:
- Coordinating care with other healthcare team members, like physical therapists
- Educating family members about the patient’s condition and how they can support them
- Providing comfort and end-of-life care, and making sure the patient’s wishes are known to their family
Conditions Treated by Geriatric Nurses
Geriatric nurses focus on health conditions that affect older adults, such as:
- Alzheimer’s disease and dementia
- Arthritis and joint pain
- Chronic pain
- Depression and loneliness
- Risk of falls and impaired mobility
- Incontinence
- Nutritional problems
- Osteoporosis (weak bones)
- Stroke recovery
Skills Needed for Geriatric Nurses
Geriatric nurses need many of the same skills as regular nurses, but they also need special skills to care for older patients. Some of the key skills include:
- Understanding the Aging Process: Geriatric nurses know how the body changes as we age. This helps them recognize problems early and react quickly when things go wrong.
- Communication Skills: Nurses need to communicate well with their patients, but older adults may have difficulty with speech or memory. Geriatric nurses use both verbal and nonverbal communication (like body language) to understand and reassure their patients.
Conclusion
Geriatric nursing is an important field that requires special training to care for older adults. These nurses help improve the quality of life for their patients by assisting with daily activities, monitoring health, and advocating for their needs. In case of any assistance you may contact trusted Elderly Care Provider like Archit Home Health Care, They will assist you. As the population of older adults continues to grow, the need for skilled geriatric nurses will keep increasing. This role is essential to making sure older adults live their later years with the care and dignity they deserve.