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The typical day for an adult gerontology nurse

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Anyone interested in becoming an adult gerontology nurse, because they enjoy working with older people or had such a nurse make the last days of a dying relative a little easier might be curious to know what the typical day for a practitioner might be like.

Adult gerontology nurses work with elderly adults and offer basic nursing care. They also help older people to be as active and independent as they can for as long as possible.

Adult gerontology nurses work in extended living facilities, rehabilitation clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, or even the patient’s home.

A Day in the Life

What does the typical day for an adult gerontology nurse look like?

The treatment of complex physical and mental health needs in elderly patients will be part of a typical day’s work for an adult gerontology nurse,

This can include assessing patients’ mental and cognitive skills, discussions with them and their families about their health issues, the organization of medication, ensuring the medication schedule is adhered to, and understanding patients’ acute or chronic health issues.

The duties of an adult gerontology nurse may differ depending on the location of their employment.

The duties of an adult gerontology nurse can include giving links to patients that contain important resources, designing healthcare regimens that meet the needs of patients, providing recommendations for changes in medication, and teaching patients about the prevention of disease and other ways to stay safe.

Other duties may include preparing patients for the day ahead in the morning and discussing the patient’s ongoing care with social workers, medical teams, or family members.

What do you need to do to become an adult gerontology nurse?

The first step to becoming an adult gerontology nurse is to become a registered nurse, which requires completing a bachelor’s or associate’s degree via an accredited nursing school.

To become an agent-c (certified adult gerontology nurse practitioner), it is necessary to have a valid license as a registered nurse and have worked in the role for at least two years, having completed a minimum of 36,000 clinical work hours over the last three years.

It is possible to study nursing via online courses at Wilkes University. Applicants to become an agnpc must have completed 30 hours of continuing education in geriatric nursing in the last three years.

Considerations

An adult gerontology nurse must be physically fit and active, possibly even more so than is the case with other nurse practitioners.

Geriatric patients are much more likely to require assistance for daily self-care activities. A certain amount of physical strength is necessary to aid patients in bathing, standing, and walking.

Adult gerontology nurses should also be prepared for the physical toll of working anti-social hours and travel.

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