According to the Population Reference Bureau, the number of Americans aged 65 and older is predicted to reach 95 million by 2060, an increase of 83% from 2018. The healthcare system is not prepared to meet the special demands of this increasingly aging population. While the number of persons aged 65 and older who require senior care continues to rise, according to 2019 statistics from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), only 6,000 specialized physicians are qualified in gerontology.
To remedy this growing gap, elderly health professionals and activists enlist the assistance and experience of gerontological nurses, often known as geriatric nurses. Nurses who want to become nurse practitioners who specialize in gerontological nursing might do so by earning an advanced nursing degree. Speak to a tacoma adult gerontology nurse practitioner to learn more.
Nursing professionals who want to learn more about what an adult gerontological nurse practitioner (AGNP) performs and how to become one may consider getting a graduate degree.
What is the role of the Adult Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?
Gerontology, or the study of aging, investigates the origins and consequences of age-related disorders in humans. The area investigates the biological features of aging, such as the hardening of artery walls in the circulatory system and the distinct psychological, social, and physiological aspects of aging.
Adult gerontological nurse practitioners care for and treat adults from late adulthood to the end of life. This group has special requirements because the body no longer develops at maturity. Patients’ bodies’ capacity to adapt to stimuli and recover weakens as they age. Among the patient’s age-related alterations are:
- Increased risk of infection
- Decreased bone density
- Reduced respiratory power
Gerontological nursing goals
A gerontological nurse’s mission is to deliver high-quality care to older persons. According to the American Nurses Association (ANA), gerontological nurses are concerned with the aging process, preservation, promotion, restoration, and optimum health and functioning. This care encompasses avoiding sickness and injury, assisting in healing, alleviating the consequences of the disease, and advocating for older folks’ health.
Gerontological nurse practitioners provide comprehensive treatment. They cover the cultural, psychological, and social aspects of aging, treatment, and prevention of sickness. Gerontological nurses may provide a treatment plan that the patient understands and that family members or carers can support using this complete approach to health.
AGNPs are advanced nurse practitioners who specialize in either acute care or primary care. They can work with individuals of all ages, beginning in early adulthood. AGNPs will play a crucial role in treating the rising number of patients with complicated health challenges related to aging and chronic illnesses as baby boomers mature.
