Nursing is an increasingly in-demand career choice. Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners are poised to become one of healthcare’s most important assets in the coming decades. Let’s take a look at some detailed information about gerontology nurse practitioners and how they help the aging population.
The aging population in the United States
According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB), a longstanding partner of the US Census Bureau, the number of older Americans in the United States is expected to reach 95 million by 2060. This is an unprecedented increase and nearly doubles 2018’s 52 million. By 2060, the number of seniors will represent 23% of the total population, a 7% increase from 2018. As the population ages and the number of seniors in the country increases, the task of caring for older individuals becomes incredibly important.
Adult gerontology nurse practitioners are indispensable in the American healthcare system, and the demand for their services will only rise dramatically in the next few decades. The current medical landscape is not prepared to take on the rapidly aging population. Gerontology nurse practitioners will help ease the transition into expanded geriatric care, which will become increasingly widespread from 2018 to 2060.
What is an adult gerontology nurse?
Adult gerontology nurse practitioner (NP) is a specialized nursing role that focuses on gerontology, more commonly known as the study of aging, as well as age-related illnesses. Because they focus on geriatric care, gerontology NPs are more familiar with both the causes as well as the effects of these health issues on the aging population than general practitioner NPs are. In addition to the unique social, psychological, and physiological impact of aging, their expertise lies in their understanding of the biological effects of aging, such as artery wall stiffening.
The geriatric population has unique healthcare needs as their bodies no longer develop past the age of maturity. This means that the body’s ability to respond to stressors and injuries, including disease and other illnesses, declines as people age. Some of the most common age-related health issues in these patients include reduced bone density, reduced respiratory ability, and an increased likelihood of developing infections.
Each of these issues leads to even more complications. Decreased bone density, for example, can often lead to broken bones. The increased likelihood of developing infections can turn a broken bone into an extended healing process, which is made even more difficult by the reduced mobility and respiratory ability of the population. The widespread impact of common age-related health issues can be difficult to predict unless nurses are specially trained to recognize it. Gerontology NPs understand these issues and are more successful in addressing them proactively than the general nurse population.
A gerontology NP’s greatest goal is to optimize the quality of life for their patients. This includes studying:
- The aging process
- Restoration of health
- Promotion of health
- Protection of health
- Health optimization
Gerontology-specific NPs have mastered all these areas of study in order to help improve patients’ quality of life and aid in the healing process. A specialized education – using a BSN to MSN-AGPCNP degree program, more specifically – can help prepare students for the rigors of gerontology and how it impacts patient health. Some universities even offer online courses. Spring Arbor University, for example, offers a remote program designed with a nurse’s busy schedule in mind.
Nurse practitioners vs. registered nurses
Before we go further, let’s take a look at registered nurses (RNs) and NPs and explore how work differs between the two.
One of the biggest differences between RN and NPs is the scope of work. RNs have a greater scope of work, and as a result, their daily tasks and goals can vary widely from day to day. Things such as the medical center they work for, the number of nurses on the team, and the type of patients they see can impact their duties. Some of the most common RN duties include:
- Assessing patients
- Recording symptoms and medical history
- Giving and monitoring medications and IVs
- Creating patient care plans
- Drawing urine samples, blood, and other fluids
- Educating patients and their loved ones about the patient’s care plan and needs
The exact tasks which need to be completed are substantially impacted by the kind of patients they see. For example, small children require different skills than adults, and RNs must be able to utilize a generalized set of healthcare tools in order to serve both populations successfully.
Nurse practitioners also complete many of the tasks listed above, but the scope of their work is more limited. Gerontology NPs, for example, focus specifically on the geriatric population. This means that while they might possess such knowledge, gerontology NPs must utilize a more specific set of tools. There are also a few tasks NPs are able to perform which differ from an RN’s responsibilities:
- Medication prescription and monitoring
- Operating medical equipment
- Ordering diagnostic tests
- Supervising staff members and other nurses
Of these, the most notable difference between RNs and NPs is the latter’s ability to prescribe medication. Both kinds of nurses can monitor medications and record the effect they seem to be having on patients, but only NPs can actually prescribe such medication.
More specifically, adult-gerontological acute care nurse practitioners (AGACNPs) operate in a variety of settings ranging from long-term care facilities to intensive care units (ICUs). They care for older patients with chronic illnesses and critical conditions and strive to maximize their patients’ health and quality of life.
What do adult gerontology NPs do?
NPs might not need to utilize generalized medical knowledge ranging from children to adults, but they still need to be able to exercise a well-rounded set of tools to improve their patients’ lives. This ranges from preventing and treating illnesses to addressing the cultural, social, and psychological aspects of aging. Such a comprehensive care approach is critical in developing and implementing care plans that patients, as well as their loved ones, can accept, support, and understand fully.
Adult gerontology care duties vary to suit the unique needs of each individual patient. NPs often assist with everyday routines such as bathing, eating, walking, and eating, for example, as well as more specialized care depending upon any chronic illnesses or injuries which might be present.
Skills of adult-gerontology NPs
Adult-gerontology NPs must possess a number of skills in order to fully meet their patients’ needs. These include, among others, leadership skills, critical thinking ability, an analytical mindset, and good communication skills.
Leadership skills
Leadership skills allow gerontology NPs to be strong advocates for patients. They must serve as a positive role model committed to providing high quality care to the geriatric population and, in some cases, encouraging their fellow nurses to look into more specialized care tools for geriatric patients.
Critical thinking and analytical mindset
Gerontology NPs must be able to analyze care plan options to meet all their patients’ needs. This task becomes increasingly difficult as people age and the propensity for chronic illnesses and conditions rises. A thorough examination of their patients’ health statuses, including evaluation of environmental factors such as social activities and home care, must be undertaken before they can create a care plan that the patient and families can adopt.
Effective communication
Not only do gerontology NPs need to communicate with their coworkers in order to produce comprehensive care plans, but they must also be able to interact with their patients. This includes adapting their method of communication to suit a patient’s specific needs. Speaking slowly, for example, and planning to spend extra time with patients living with hearing loss are common communication skills gerontology NPs must possess. Communicating with patients living with memory loss and delirium can also prove difficult and often requires involving a family member in the process.
What health issues affect older adults?
Older adults are affected by a plethora of health issues, most of which will impact a gerontology NP’s role. They must be able to address economic, social, physical, spiritual, and psychological factors which impact their patients’ health in both the long term and the short term.
More specifically, the geriatric population is increasingly obese. This poses several health issues that can reduce health in older adults as well as significantly increase their risk of serious complications. Diabetes is always a concern in older adults, for example, and the likelihood of developing it increases when patients are obese. Obesity has also been linked to an increased risk for chronic issues such as stroke, cancer, Type 2 diabetes, and heart disease, among many others.
NPs also address the injuries which arise from falls, which become more common as people age and their balance begins to degrade. These are serious health events which might result in a broken hip or arm, facial and body bruising, and skull injuries, among others.
How to become a gerontology NP
The first step to becoming a gerontology NP is generally to complete a BSN from an accredited nursing program and pass the NCLEX-RN exam. Next, gerontology NP hopefuls should be ready to either enter the workforce and acquire practical knowledge or go directly from their undergraduate education to an MSN program. Passing national examinations is the final step to becoming an adult-gerontology NP, but not for keeping the license. NPs must be prepared to stay up to date with developments in their field to maintain their NP certification.
Are you considering a career in geriatric care? The information above can help you make an informed decision!
