Nurses and geriatrics go hand in hand. They care for the elderly, assist them with their needs, and make sure they are comfortable at all times. Simultaneously, they also educate others on how best to handle this population of patients. With the complex healthcare needs of this population, professional nurses are in a unique position to provide specialized care that can improve the quality of life for geriatric patients. This article presents several strategies that professional nurses can implement to improve senior care.
Aging is a normal process that affects all people, including geriatric patients. The aging process brings about significant changes in an individual’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. At the same time, it also affects how a person responds to and recovers from illness or injury.
Aging can cause a decline in the functional abilities of a geriatric patient. One of the reasons may be changes in the body, loss of muscle mass and strength, or a reduced ability to heal from an injury. The inability of the body to repair itself makes geriatric patients more vulnerable to developing chronic health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
Professional nurses are in a unique position to provide specialized care that can improve the quality of life for geriatric patients. They can provide specialized care for geriatric patients by assessing their physical, emotional, and social needs. This assessment can help nurses develop a care plan that meets each patient’s specific needs.
Nurses also have an essential role in educating the patient and their family members about taking care of themselves (e.g., eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding injury). Nurses can help the patient and their family maintain and improve their functional abilities by providing education. At the same time, they can themselves enroll in online AGPCNP courses and hone their professional skills. Online courses can give you the skills necessary to excel in your chosen field.
Another critical aspect of care for geriatric patients is providing support and assistance with activities of daily living. These activities may include bathing, dressing, grooming, and using the toilet. Nurses can assist with these activities or help the patient and their family find resources that can help them.
Let’s take a deeper dive and explore the number of ways professional nurses care for geriatric patients and go above and beyond:
1. Assessing geriatric patients to develop care plans that meet their specific needs:
Professional nurses can provide specialized care for geriatric patients by assessing their physical, emotional, and social needs. This assessment can help nurses develop a care plan that meets each patient’s specific needs.
Nurses assess geriatric patients by asking those questions about their health, developmental history, functional abilities, and social support system. This information can help nurses determine which interventions are necessary to improve patients’ quality of life.
2. Educating patients and their families about how to take care of themselves:
Nurses also have an essential role in educating patients and their family members about taking care of themselves. Nurses can help the patient and their family maintain and improve their functional abilities by providing education. Nurses can also provide information about healthy eating, exercise, and injury prevention.
3. Providing support and assistance with activities of daily living:
Another critical aspect of care for geriatric patients is providing support and assistance with activities of daily living. These activities may include bathing, dressing, grooming, and using the toilet. Nurses can assist with these activities or help the patient and their family find resources that can help them.
4. Providing specialized care for geriatric patients:
Professional nurses are in a unique position to provide specialized care that can improve the quality of life for geriatric patients. One example is providing wound care or assisting with a medical procedure, such as inserting a catheter or a feeding tube.
Professional nurses also have an essential role in helping patients and their families transition to nursing homes or assisted living facilities. By providing support and guidance, nurses can help ensure a smooth transition for patients and their families.
5. Nurses can provide wound care which is vital due to the high incidence of skin issues in geriatrics:
One common issue nurses deal with when caring for geriatric patients is wounds. This can be due to various factors, such as the patient’s decreased mobility, increased risk for infections, and changes in circulation.
In order to reduce the risk of infection, it is vital to maintain a clean environment while also preventing skin breakdown and wounds. Nurses can provide wound care and treatments such as debridement, irrigation, and dressings to promote healing.
6. Nurses can also assist with activities of daily living such as bathing, using the toilet, and grooming:
Another area that nurses specialize in when caring for geriatric patients is ADLs. Activities of daily living may include bathing, using the toilet, and grooming. Nurses can assist with these activities or help the patient and their family find resources that can help them.
7. Nurses can also provide support and guidance to the patient’s family during the transition to a nursing home or assisted living facility:
One of the essential things that nurses can do for geriatric patients is to provide support and guidance to the patient’s family during the transition to a nursing home or assisted living facility. Nurses can ensure smooth and successful assistance by helping the patient, and their family members navigate the transition process.
8. Nurses can provide specialized care that can improve the quality of life for geriatric patients:
Nurses can also provide specialized care that can enhance the quality of life for geriatric patients. One example is providing wound care or assisting with a medical procedure, such as inserting a catheter or a feeding tube.
Final Words:
Professional nurses are in a unique position to provide specialized care that can improve the quality of life for geriatric patients. By providing support and guidance, nurses can help ensure a smooth transition for patients and their families. The needs of the elderly are different than those of younger adults. For example, they may not be able or willing to move around on their own for long periods at a time. So you’ll need more frequent visits with them throughout each day/weekend etc.
The article concludes that nurses should be thorough professionals when caring for elderly patients. They must remember their names, ask if they need anything throughout the day or night, and provide good communication to maintain an atmosphere of dignity.
