1. What is gerontological nursing?

If you work with adults, you will be a gerontology nurse! Gerontology focuses on understanding the process of aging; what is normal during the aging process, and what is not. Specifically, this course highlights the protection, promotion, restoration, and optimization of health and functions in the geriatric population. With an aging population it is important to know how to provide the best care to our patients of all ages, implementing targeted safety measures specific to their needs. In this cousre you will find ways to treat physical, mental, emotional, and social problems your older patients may encounter.

2. What does a gerontology nurse do?

A goal of a gerontology nurse is to provide the highest-quality care to older adults. Some nurses only work with older adults, however, the majority of nurses will be working with patients of all ages, making geriatrics a sub specialty you should be versed in! A core element of providing nursing care to geriatric patients is helping a patient maintain or regain independence, working with the patient to meet their individual goals and quality fo life. Additionally, gerontological nurses often focus on preventive care. Nurses will work with patients to establish the healthiest life possible for each patient and keep them safe from potential injuries and worsening medical conditions.
Daily responsibilities may include: optimizing mobility, providing a safe environement for mobility, administering medications, coordinating patient care, wound care, screening for potential safety or medical concerns, and advocating for patient needs.

3. Why is gerontology important in nursing?

Good news, we are living longer! This means that we have more patients who fall in the geriatric category, and those adults have different needs than younger adults because their bodies are different. Just like we have specialties for babies and children, we have gerontology that focuses on the body of an aging adult. Healthcare is never a one size fits all thing, and nursing care for older adults should be no different! Many nurses will go on to work with adults, and therefore, work with older adults. Learning how to best care for those patients will affect countless lives going foward.

4. Why I should study gerontological nursing?

In order to provide the best and safest care to all populations, it is important to understand the unique qualities of that group of people. By studying nursing care of geriatric patients, you will be empowered to implement safety measurse that will help older adults recover faster, stay safer, and obtain a quality of life that is meaningful for them.

5. How do I become a gerontology nurse?

Anyone who is a licensed LPN or RN can work with the geriatric population and be a gerontology nurse! Many nurses, even if they do not work specifically with older adults will be geriatric nurses as some subset of their population will be older adults. While no specialized training is required to care for this population, it will be helpful to have a solid foundation in geriatrics if working in any field with adults.

6. Where do gerontological nurses work?

You will encounter older adults in a variety of practice settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, rehabilitation facilities, senior centers, retirement communities and patients’ homes. Basically, any place you work as a nurse that provides care to adults, will automatically make you at least in part a gerontology nurse!

7. Whats included in Lecturio’s Gerontology course?

In Lecturio’s video library you find over 20 videos with a watch time of 2 hours. Additionally there are over 60 quiz questions available. The big advantage of Lecturio is that you can download your learning materials and learn it in your own pace.