| With the rapid aging of the American population | | | | where they gain critical first-hand experience treating |
| resulting in more and more seniors in need of | | | | the needs of the elderly. |
| continuing medical care, the health care industry has | | | | In some programs, nursing specialists are also given |
| responded by devoting more attention than ever | | | | instruction in genomics to enable them to better |
| before to the unique treatment needs of elderly | | | | understand the role that genetics plays in the aging |
| patients. The nursing segment of the health care | | | | process. As a secondary part of the gerontology |
| industry has responded with equal vigor, and many | | | | education process, genomics helps in the |
| nurses now focus their educational endeavors in the | | | | understanding of why certain therapies are more |
| field of gerontology - the care of older adults. | | | | effective in certain types of patients, and why some |
| Gerontological nursing is now one of the fastest | | | | patient groups are more susceptible to certain chronic |
| growing patient care specialties, and an area in which | | | | conditions than others. Other specialized information |
| growth is expected to continue for at least the next | | | | provided to gerontology nurses involves nutrition and |
| several decades. | | | | physical therapy training that can assist nurses in |
| Gerontology nursing specialists are charged with | | | | helping the elderly to maintain a higher quality of life |
| providing treatment and care within hospitals, nursing | | | | through improvement in overall fitness. |
| homes, private medical offices, and even patients' | | | | Gerontological nursing generally offers a slightly higher |
| homes. These nursing professionals also serve | | | | salary than standard general nursing opportunities. |
| important roles in areas involving administrative, | | | | The latest national averages for this field of nursing |
| educational, and management responsibilities. Many | | | | indicate an annual salary of more than $55,000. As |
| elder care nurses serve within clinics and community | | | | with other jobs in the nursing industry, the salary is |
| centers, veteran care facilities, and acute care | | | | dependent upon a host of factors that include |
| centers for the elderly. | | | | geography, the experience level of the nurse, and |
| Beyond the traditional educational requirements for a | | | | whether the job is located within a hospital, private |
| career in nursing, gerontology nursing specialists also | | | | office, or home health care setting. |
| take courses designed to provide them with unique | | | | Salaries on both the east and west coasts of the |
| specialty care skill sets to help them deal with the | | | | United States can rise to as much as $70,000 or |
| diverse range of treatment challenges posed by the | | | | more, while those in certain areas of the Midwest |
| elderly. Most programs provide mentoring and | | | | tend to be somewhat lower than the national |
| advisors who are responsible for arranging for the | | | | average. However, the benefits afforded to many in |
| nurses' training in areas of health assessment and | | | | the nursing profession, when coupled with the actual |
| protection, theories on elder care, analysis of | | | | salaries, create an overall compensation package that |
| complex cases, management of common conditions | | | | enables most gerontological nursing practitioners to |
| endemic to seniors, and pharmacology. In addition, | | | | remain near the top of their profession in terms of |
| these mentors and advisors help to place | | | | income earned. |
| gerontology nurses-in-training into clinical environments | | | | |