Embarking On A Career In Geriatric Nursing

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By Lindsay Barnes

These days, being a health care professional is practically a guarantee that you will survive; it is one of the career options that have managed to stay strong despite the gloomy onslaught of unemployment and the recession buffeting the world today. After all, there will always be a need for people who are skilled and knowledgeable in handling health emergencies and curing diseases. In the health care profession, one of the most in demand jobs remains to be nursing.

It takes quite a lot of dedication to be a nurse. Some people get into this profession solely because it pays a decent salary, while still others become nurses for the personal fulfillment the job offers. Many nurses say that the feeling of being able to care for the sick and actually helping to ease their pain is a great source of job satisfaction. Of course, the job does make a lot of demands. Expect to spend a great amount of time on the job, since nurses are expected to work long hours during every shift on a daily basis. It is also far more than just doing the rounds of each segment and looking in on every patient. You are also expected to do other things, such as ensure that the patient's needs are met and basically make sure that they are protected from infections and other diseases.

If you are considering a career in nursing, you should know that it entails a lot of work as well as the proper training; nurses are expected to have a university degree. You should also consider what type of nursing you want to be involved in. Some want to be operating room nurses, while others opt to be in pediatrics. One field you should really consider, however, is geriatric nursing.

Geriatric nursing is a growing segment in the field of nursing, what with the country's aging population and the shortage of nurses. Being in geriatric nursing requires that you have a unique understanding of the issues and concerns to do with the aging process. You will also be expected to work in various locations apart from hospitals; these include assisted living facilities or even the patient's home.

Not all nurses are cut out to be in geriatric nursing. You not only need the basic skills, but you also have to have a serious understanding of what the elderly are going through. You are expected to have obtained the proper education and training to equip you for the work. Apart from that, you need to have sensitivity and real concern for your patients, and be truly dedicated to making them--and their families--feel better as well.

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