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.
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.
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 $81,220 per year as of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). This amount can vary by location and experience, from the low-end average of $61,250 to the high-end of $129,400. Depending on where you work, your employer may be able to offer higher or lower compensation:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $90,600
Offices of Physicians: $79,810
Outpatient Care Centers: $97,200
Home Health Care Services: $82,920
Nursing Care Facilities (Skilled Nursing Facilities): $77,190
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.
LPNs make slightly less than RNs, with the average salary closer to $55,860. Depending on location, an LPN can earn anywhere from $40,490 to $72,650.
Geriatric nurse practitioners can earn a higher salary, much like any other nurse practitioner role. The average annual salary of a nurse practitioner was $121,610, according to BLS data from 2022. The low-end average was $87,340, and the high-end was $165,240. Salary can also change based on employment type:
General Medical and Surgical Hospitals: $129,330
Offices of Physicians: $121,880
Offices of Other Health Practitioners:$112,660
Outpatient Care Centers: $134,030
Home Health Care Services: $148,960
The location of employment can affect geriatric nurse practitioners as well, with differences similar to RNs.
The top paying areas for geriatric nurses and nurse practitioners 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.
NursingEducation strives to provide information that is up-to-date and unbiased. By engaging professionals from multiple healthcare perspectives, we ensure our content contains accurate information that helps our readers.
We have combined decades of experience teaching, publishing research, and working with patients in all fields of medicine to create accurate and straightforward online education. Once written, each article undergoes a rigorous peer-review process to bring you the highest quality, most comprehensive content possible.
Our writers receive feedback from reviewers to clarify content, prevent misleading statements, and identify areas that would benefit from more information. Our subject matter experts and reviewers generally work full-time in their professions and work for NursingEducation part-time.
