Gerontological nursing is a nursing speciality that focuses on provision of healthcare services to the elderly population. The need for specialist nurses who focus on the elderly is necessitated by the unique needs of elderly people. They face higher risks of injuries as well as certain diseases compared to the general population. In addition, most body organs begin to fail or work sub-optimally as we age necessitating constant care.
There are variety of reasons why few students choose gerontological nursing as a speciality. Firstly, there are very few experts with requisite competency and knowledge gerontological nursing. Consequently, a significant proportion of nursing programs do not have courses dedicated to the speciality. A survey by Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing revealed that two-third of baccalaureate nursing programs in the USA do not offer courses in geriatrics. Secondly, there is a negative perception about geriatric nursing. Most nursing professionals and students perceive geriatric nurses as people who could not make it to more prestigious nursing fields such as cardiology or surgery. Therefore, most students consider geriatric nursing as a fall back plan in case everything else does not work due to the existing perception. Thirdly, the fact that there are very few geriatric nurses in the USA means that there are very few role models to inspire students to choose this field as a speciality. The American Geriatric Society points out that less than one percent of registered nurses are registered as geriatrics.
There is a need to increase salaries in the field to make it attractive and more prestigious relative to other nursing fields. There is also a need to organize frequent visits by geriatrics to nursing schools to talk to students about what they do and motivate them to join the field.
Response to Brian
I agree that there is a need to raise the salaries paid to geriatric nurses to increase interest in the field. It is rational that students will be motivated by higher pay to continue studying and specialize in the field. However, financial incentives should not be relied on as the only motivation. There is a need to inspire students to appreciate their contribution to society when they became geriatric nurses. Intrinsic motivation will not only encourage someone to venture into the field but also provide their services whole heartedly. There is also a need to mentally prepare students of what they will go through as geriatric nurses and how to overcome those challenges. For instance, as Brian mentions that he was discouraged by the pressure and the thought of watching someone fade away. Students need to be prepared on how to deal with these emotional issues and even encourage the families of the elderly patient. Lastly, I agree that there is a need for more prestige in the profession to attract students.
Response to Tamara
I agree that one of the reasons for few geriatric nurses is the limited number of nursing programs that have dedicated programs to the field. I also concur that there is shortage of nursing professional in the field to inspire the next generation. Human beings also want a role model to look up to and emulate. Besides it also creates misinformation and biases that cannot be confirmed or refuted since students do not have contact with professionals in the field. I also agree that geriatric nursing does not have the prestige associated with certain nursing fields. It is often reserved as a fall back plan or for nurses who are not ambitious. Therefore, there is a need to change the perception to attract more students to the field.
References
Ritchey, A. (2013, October 11). Is Your Attitude Towards Geriatrics Contributing to the Nursing Shortage? Retrieved from http://www.nursetogether.com/your-attitude-towards-geriatrics-contributing-nursing-shortage: http://www.nursetogether.com/your-attitude-towards-geriatrics-contributing-nursing-shortage
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. (2012, Febraury 10). United States in Search of Nurses with Geriatrics Training. Retrieved from http://www.rwjf.org: http://www.rwjf.org/en/library/articles-and-news/2012/02/united-states-in-search-of-nurses-with-geriatrics-training.html
