As the Occupational Outlook guide indicates, being a nurse is currently one of the most lucrative and fastest growing professions. One field of nursing forecast to have an increased level of demand is gerontology. As people now age faster, the average number of geriatric patients being admitted to nursing homes and hospitals has now grown. Based on a survey, patients aged 65 and above compose 60% of adult primary visits, 48% of in-patient admissions, and 85% of nursing home residents.
A study done by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration foresees that by the year 2020, the demand for nurses will increase by the following percentage: 66% for registered nurses in nursing homes, 72% for licensed practical and vocational nurses, and 69% for certified nursing assistants. On the other hand, the demand for nurses in home care settings (including "managed care nursing home settings) is expected to augment by a much higher rate, more specifically at 250%.
Consequently, if you are thinking of starting a career as a nurse or if you are already one, you can look forward to thousand of job openings at nursing homes and chronic care facilities. It would be good though to have an open mind about this type of career. Geriatric nursing in itself has evolved over the years; and the idea that a nursing home is a depressing place full of old and hopeless patients is simply cliché. You might be surprised at what nursing homes offer nowadays.
Unlike their predecessors, the recent generation of senior citizens are more independent, energetic, and strong-willed. This has caused huge changes and development in long term elder care. The following options are available to you, should you choose to build a nursing career in gerontology.
On-site Nursing in Geriatric Care Facilities
There are very few elderly people who require a 24-hour nursing care, and most senior citizens only need minimal supervision. In senior housing facilities, on-site nurses are available to help the residents with their medication, perform basic medical tasks (ex. Blood pressure monitoring), and attend to emergency situations. The on-site nurses also discuss any health care program or medical needs the residents may require, with their respective physicians.
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRC) are distinct from traditional nursing homes, so much so that their residents have their own apartments which they maintain mostly on their own. Most of the CCRC residents are independent on get only the help they think is necessary. CCRC's offer a variety of job opportunities for nurses, ranging from giving personal care to individual residents to performing duties like that of a head nurse in a hospital.
Convalescent Homes
Though most nursing homes offer long-term residency for geriatric patients, there are nursing homes which cater to short-term care and rehabilitation. Now, patients in need of further medical attention can stay in rehabilitation and convalescent facilities until they recover. Nurses in such facilities play a huge part in the recuperation process gone through by the patients, and for most of them, seeing the patients get well is a rewarding and uplifting experience. The posts normally filled by nurses in rehabilitation homes include the following: charge nurses, floor nurses, physical and occupational therapy specialists, and nursing assistants.
Traditional Nursing Homes
Over time, traditional nursing homes have changed and improved. However, nurses who work in traditional nursing facilities can still expect to work with patients for extended periods of time. In a traditional nursing home, a certified nursing assistant perform bulk of the hands on nursing duties like assisting patients with their medication, floor and charge nurses oversee the medical needs of an entire floor or wing, while head nurses are responsible for the overall administration of the facility.
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