How to Become a Geriatric Nurse

Geriatric nurses are specially trained to care for patients in older adulthood. With the aging population increasing in the United States, it’s no surprise that this healthcare position is currently in high demand.

Being a geriatric nurse offers rewarding work, stable job opportunities, and desirable starting salaries. While these factors can make the job seem promising, it’s also essential to understand exactly what geriatric nursing entails.

If you want to learn how to become a geriatric nurse, you have come to the right place. To get a better sense of this career path, read on for everything you need to know about geriatric nursing!

 

What Do Geriatric Nurses Do?

So what is geriatric nursing exactly? Registered nurses (RNs) who specialize in geriatric care spend a majority of their time caring for and promoting the health of patients 65 years and older. Many of these older adult patients may have mobility issues or chronic health conditions, making this type of nursing care even more vital.

What is geriatric nursing in terms of responsibilities? Some of the most common duties a geriatric nurse may perform on a daily basis include:

• Administering medications
• Assess patients’ mental and physical wellbeing
• Coordinating care for chronic conditions and diseases
• Assist patients with functional health and well being
• Educating family members/caregivers about a patient’s health needs
• Examining older adults for new or changing signs and symptoms of illness

 

Geriatric nurses also provide a deeper level of mental and emotional care for their patients. As a geriatric nurse, you’ll work closely with patients and take on specific responsibilities, such as:

• Advocating for patients
• Collaborating with multiple specialty healthcare providers
• Understanding and caring for all aspects of chronic illnesses
• Creating a comfortable environment for patients
• Conducting health screenings and preventing complications: such as depression screenings and medication assessment

While these are just a few examples of common responsibilities, a geriatric nurse may provide a wide scope of care for a person in older adulthood. The type of work you do will ultimately depend on the patient and their individual needs.

 

Where Do Geriatric Nurses Work?

Geriatric nurses can be found in any healthcare facility where elderly people are admitted. Popular places of employment for this type of registered nurse may include:

• Hospitals
• Skilled nursing facilities
• Outpatient care
• Rehabilitation centers
• Senior centers and retirement communities
• Home healthcare

It’s important to keep in mind the conditions that come with each work environment. For example, a hospital may provide far more teamwork and support, but the pace of work is often faster than that of a home healthcare position. That being said, home healthcare nurses will need excellent communication skills in order to collaborate with team members from a distance and provide the same quality of care that a hospital would.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, home healthcare positions also focus on a single patient at a time (but often see multiple patients per day), with little to no help from other medical professionals. This is what makes geriatric nursing such a diverse and unique career.

 

How Much Do Geriatric Nurses Make?

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, RNs as a whole earn an average salary of $75,330 per year—or $36.22 per hour. While these statistics do not differentiate between RN specialties, both Payscale and Glassdoor report the average geriatric nurse salary somewhere between $65,870 and $67,530.

It’s important to note that certain variables—such as location and educational background—can have a significant impact on a geriatric nurse’s salary. For example, master’s-degree educated nurse practitioners (NPs) who specialize in geriatric care earn a much higher salary of $172,645 per year—or $83 per hour. Of course, this is only applicable to nurses who choose to advance their education beyond the traditional RN requirements.

As far as location goes, certain cities and states in the U.S. tend to pay their geriatric nurses much higher salaries than others. Some of the best places to work as a geriatric RN include:

• Los Angeles, CA – $38.53 per hour.
• New York City, NY – $36.24 per hour.
• Seattle, WA – $33.98 per hour.
• Houston, TX – $32.41 per hour.

The job outlook for nurses with geriatric speciality knowledge is also promising. With only 1% of RNs and 3% of NPs currently certified in geriatric care, the job openings for this position are expected to skyrocket, especially given that the U.S. population is getting older. The BLS expects a 7% growth rate for all RN jobs throughout 2029.

 

Good Traits of a Geriatric Nurse

Not all nursing jobs are the same. This means that your individual characteristics, personality traits, and overall working style can greatly affect the branch of nursing that you wind up in. For nurses considering a career in geriatric care, note that these traits and nursing skills will come in handy in this line of work:

• Patience
• Optimism
• Physical endurance
• Empathy and understanding
• Compassion

These skills will be helpful in providing the best possible care for elderly patients, both in a hospital or home health setting.

 

Is Geriatric Nursing the Right Career For Me?

Beyond an esteemed degree and a solid resume, there are certain aspects of geriatric care that just come naturally to some people. Geriatric nursing is a unique profession that closely works with aging patients, and some nurses may be more drawn to caring for this population than others.

If you’re interested in pursuing this line of work, consider whether or not you possess the following traits and nursing skills:

• Physical endurance – Working with the elderly may require additional physical strength, particularly when patients have mobility issues.
• Empathy – When working in the field of geriatric care, it’s important for nurses to have a high level of empathy. Patients struggling with loss of independence and chronic illnesses will need a caring healthcare provider who is prepared to comfort them and make their lives easier.

When it comes to geriatric nursing, healthcare facilities are looking for candidates who are truly passionate about this line of work. If you’re looking to help elderly patients, and make their lives easier and more enjoyable throughout their later years, then a career as a geriatric nurse might just be the one for you.

 

Steps to Become a Geriatric Nurse

Now that you’re familiar with the job description of a geriatric nurse, one question remains: How do I become a geriatric nurse?

 

Step #1 – Education

The first step to any nursing specialty is earning the proper nursing degree. All nurses must complete an undergraduate or associate degree in order to begin practicing.

When it comes to geriatric nursing, you’ve got a few options:

• ADN – An Associate Degree in Nursing — also known as an ADN — can be completed in about two years. Most community colleges and trade schools offer ADN programs, and upon graduation, you will be able to take the NCLEX-RN and obtain a nursing license. An ADN program will place less focus on the research and leadership skills needed for other nursing careers.
• BSN – A Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing (BSN) is a degree earned from a four year college or university. This program delves deeper into the leadership, population health, and evidence-based practice. Nurses who earn their BSN typically have increased job opportunities, higher starting salaries, and better chances of getting promoted. An online ABSN program is also another option for individuals looking to change careers after graduating, and allows you more flexibility as the student given it’s hybrid — online and in-person — approach.

 

Step #2 – Licensure

The next step to becoming a geriatric nurse involves passing the NCLEX-RN and obtaining an unrestricted RN license. The NCLEX-RN uses computer adaptive testing to assess your knowledge and clinical skills in four main areas of nursing:

• Providing a safe and effective care environment
• Health promotion and maintenance
• Psychological integrity
• Physiological integrity

With an active RN license, you’ll be able to move on to the next step in your geriatric nursing career: Certification.

 

Step #3 – Application

Once you’ve passed the NCLEX-RN, you’ll need to apply for an RN license from the state you plan to work in. The requirements needed for this application typically include:

• A form of ID
• All higher-education transcripts
• Any fees associated with the application

 

Step #4 – Specialties and Certifications

Many geriatric nurses go on to earn certification in the adult-gerontology acute or primary specialty in order to advance their career, increase job opportunities, and widen their scope of care. Adult-gerontology refers to the treatment of patients throughout their lifespan, including geriatric care.

This certificate is known as a Gerontological Nursing Certification (GERO-BC), which is offered through The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). The requirements for this certificate include:

• An unrestricted, active RN license
• Two years of clinical nursing experience
• A minimum of 2,000 hours of gerontological nursing experience over the last three years
• At least 30 hours of continued education in gerontological nursing within the same timespan

 

Step #5 – Advanced Education

Finally, some geriatric nurses may choose to complete an advanced nursing degree. Higher education in the world of nursing can lead to increased salaries and more leadership positions. Below are two of the most common educational paths for advanced-level nurses:

• Direct-Entry MSN – A direct-entry Master’s of Science in Nursing (MSN) is a graduate-level degree program designed for non-nursing bachelor’s graduates. These programs typically take between 15 months and three years to complete, and allow graduates to earn certifications as nurse practitioners (NPs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). This can lead to increased salaries and more leadership opportunities in the field of geriatric nursing.
• DNP – The highest level of education a clinical nurse can earn is a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Over the next decade, the educational requirements for NPs and APRNs are expected to switch from an MSN to an online DNP degree. Nurses who wish to pursue these titles in the specialty of geriatric care may want to consider getting ahead of this change and earning their DNP now. A DNP program can take anywhere from three to seven years to complete, depending on your educational background.

 

The content published on our blog is reviewed by credentialed healthcare professionals to give you the most up-to-date and professionally accurate information. This particular article was professionally reviewed by Colleen Sanders, RN, FNP-BC on October 2, 2021.