Geriatric staff nurses specialize in caring for older adults, a rapidly growing population, making this field in high demand. They address the complex physical and mental health needs of aging patients, helping them remain independent and active. Geriatric nurses assess cognitive and physical health, manage medications, educate patients on safety and disease prevention, and coordinate care plans. Strong patience, communication, and empathy are essential, as nurses balance patient needs with family concerns. Often serving as case managers, geriatric nurses connect patients and families with community resources to support long-term, non-hospital-based care.

Education, Training and Experience

• Many aspiring geriatric nurses volunteer at senior centers, nursing homes, or hospice programs to gain experience.
• Relevant experience includes working with patients who have mobility limitations, sensory loss, cognitive impairments, and chronic or terminal illnesses.
• It is important to evaluate readiness for the physical and emotional demands of caring for patients who may not fully recover.
• To become a geriatric nurse, individuals must first become a registered nurse (RN).
• RNs earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, associate degree, or diploma and must pass the NCLEX-RN exam.
• After gaining experience, nurses can earn geriatric certification.
• Graduate education allows advancement into roles such as gerontological nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist, administrator, or researcher.

Detailed Work Activities

• Geriatric nurses work in a variety of practice settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, retirement communities and patients' homes. They often work as part of a care team that includes physicians, social workers, nursing aides, physical and occupational therapists and other caring professionals.
• In hospitals, geriatric nurses tend to work with treatment teams that have large older patient populations, such as outpatient surgery, cardiology, rehabilitation, ophthalmology, dermatology and geriatric mental health (treating older patients with psychiatric conditions, such as Alzheimer's, anxiety and depression).
• In rehabilitation and long-term care facilities, geriatric nurses manage patient care from initial assessment through development, implementation and evaluation of the care plan. They may also take on administrative, training and leadership roles.