Geriatric Nurse Career Overview

What Is a Geriatric Nurse?

Geriatric nurses care for patients who fall into the older adult category. Also known as gerontological nurses, these healthcare professionals help older adults maintain independence, treat disease, and manage multiple comorbidities. As the “boomer” generation ages and an increasing percentage of Americans fall into the older adult category, geriatric nurses will be on the front lines of their healthcare.

Where Do Geriatric Nurses Work?

Geriatric nurses can choose from a large pool of employment opportunities, as older adults seek care in many different healthcare settings. Geriatric nurses can work in:

• Assisted living facilities
• Clinics
• Home care
• Hospice
• Hospitals
• Long-term care
• Nursing homes
• Offices of physicians
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Urgent care

No matter where a geriatric nurse works, they will be tasked with treating older adults with dignity and respect, helping them to maintain independence and quality of life.

What Does a Geriatric Nurse Do?

Because many older adults have multiple disease processes progressing at once, a geriatric nurse must be able to manage complex care and work with the healthcare team to monitor vital signs, medication doses, and compliance. Geriatric nurse responsibilities include:

• Central line management (like ports and PICCs)
• Collaboration with physicians, nurse practitioners, patients, and families
• Coordination of care with other departments
• Dressing changes
• Emergency resuscitation
• Head-to-toe assessment
• Insertion and maintenance of foley catheters
• IV access and management
• Laboratory sample collection of blood and other bodily fluids
• Medication adherence monitoring
• Medication administration
• Patient and family education
• Patient hygiene
• Patient transportation
• Tracheostomy management
• Transportation assistance
• Vital signs monitoring

Older patients often experience multiple health issues at once. Some common diagnoses geriatric nurses treat include:

• Alzheimer’s disease
• Arthritis
• Cancer
• Cardiac arrhythmias and events
• Chronic pain
• Dementia
• Falls
• Incontinence
• Impaired mobility
• Malnutrition
• Medication adherence and tolerance
• Osteoporosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• Polypharmacy (too many medications)
• Stroke

Many older adults take multiple medications throughout the day or night. With different dosages and schedules, these details can get overwhelming, and fast. One aspect of geriatric nursing is helping patients understand their medications and when to take them. Geriatric nursing can sometimes feel like a juggling act, and nurses who thrive on organization may enjoy the multi-faceted approach to patient care.

How Do I Become a Geriatric Nurse?

Anyone who wants to become a geriatric nurse has to first graduate from an accredited nursing program. Geriatric nurses can practice with a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) certification, an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN), or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN).

After graduation, nurses can apply for a job as a graduate nurse (GN). Many facilities hire nurses as GNs and train them until they pass the NCLEX, their state licensing exam. Depending on their degree, after passing the NCLEX, GNs will become licensed practical nurses or registered nurses (RNs).

After orientation, geriatric nurses can practice independently. After a year or two of experience, geriatric nurses can apply to earn an advanced practice degree or specialty certification.

Geriatric nurses can become geriatric nurse practitioners (GNPs) by graduating with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN). Nurses can graduate with their MSN in two years but may take longer to complete their degrees while they work full-time.

Geriatric nurses can get certified in their specialty via the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), which offers a Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC). To be eligible for this certification, nurses must:

• Hold a current RN license
• Have 2 years of full-time experience as a registered nurse
• Have a minimum of 2,000 hours of geriatric clinical practice within the last 3 years
• Have 30 hours of continuing education in geriatric nursing within the last 3 years

How Much Does a Geriatric Nurse Make Per Year?

Geriatric nurses make the same amount as registered nurses. RNs make an average of $94,480 per year, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This amount can vary by location and experience, from the low-end average of $63,720 to the high-end of $132,680. Depending on where you work, your employer may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:

• General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $96,830
• Offices of Physicians: $83,110
• Outpatient Care Centers: $102,640
• Home Health Care Services: $87,430
• Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): $79,280

Salaries also vary depending on which state a geriatric nurse practices. The West Coast generally pays nurses the best, but they also have a higher cost of living.

The West Coast, New England states, and Alaska pay their nurses the best, but the cost of living in these areas can also be high. The lowest-paying states are in the Midwest and some Southeastern states.

The top-paying areas for geriatric nurses include:

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA
• San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA
• Napa, CA
• Vallejo-Fairfield, CA
• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ
• Yuba City, CA
• Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade, CA

Certified geriatric nurses can earn more than nurses who are not certified. In general, the more experience and proof of expertise, the higher a geriatric nurse can be compensated.

Are Geriatric Nurses in High Demand?

The U.S. Census Bureau reports that by 2030, everyone from the “baby boomer” generation will be 65 or older. Health risks increase as people age, and the more health issues crop up, the more medical care older adults will need.

The United States has a shortage of nurses in all fields. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 24% of US hospitals have reported critical staffing shortages. As a large volume of the U.S. population ages, geriatric nurses may be in even higher demand.

Additional Resources for Geriatric Nurses

To learn more about becoming a geriatric nurse, these additional resources may help:

• The American Nurses Credentialing Center
• National Gerontological Nursing Association
• American Geriatrics Society
• Eldercare Workforce Alliance
• American Assisted Living Nurses Association
• Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)