What does a nursing career entail?

What would a nursing career in geriatrics entail?

• how hard is the schooling? how good is the pay? What would you have to do like what would your day to day work include?would you recommend this as a possible career choice for ...show more

• Answer:

  There are different levels of nursing in Geriatrics. Most geriatric patients in long term facilities are managed by LPNs or LVNs (dependent on the state) with RN supervision. Long term skilled nursing facilities are often not high paying positions. LVN programs are usually less than an associate degree, though some schools offer an associate degree now. There are also RNs who work with the long term facilities usually in a management/case management level. I did not like the short time I spent in a skilled nursing facility, but all people have their own preferences. There are also RNs and LPNs who work with geriatrics in a home health setting. The preparation is the same, often the pay is better. There are also Geriatric Nurse Practitioners. These are RNs who have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, and a Master of Science in Nursing specializing as a GNP. THey work similar to a geriatric medical doctor. They see patients in an office setting, and make rounds in hospitals, nursing homes and some see patients in their homes. They write prescriptions, order test and diagnose medical conditions. This is the highest paying role in geriatric nursing. Some GNPs make o around $100,000 to $120,000 per year dependent on their workload and area of the country.