Friday, June 1, 2018

Studying To Become A Geriatric Nurse Practitioner MD

By Deborah Patterson


Studies have shown that the general population continues to age at a rapid pace. The number of elderly people in society far outnumber people under the age of 18 as well as individuals between the ages of 19 to 55. With this segment of the population growing by huge numbers each day, it is little wonder that there is such a huge need for healthcare workers dedicated to the elderly. By studying to become a geriatric nurse practitioner MD students like you could enjoy a rewarding and lucrative lifelong career.

Your lessons will most likely begin immediately in your undergraduate program at university. While you will take basics like grammar, composition, and mathematics as a student, your other courses will include human biology, psychology, and even chemistry. These classes will provide the foundation upon which you will build your future academic career and the field in which you are majoring.

Once you finish your undergraduate program, you will most likely be required to take a post-graduate degree program at a master's level. Your courses will involve more one-on-one encounters with the elderly. You likewise will be expected to take advanced lessons in organic chemistry since you most likely will have to prescribe or at least know what types of medications your patients will take.

Throughout the course of your studies, you also could perform several rounds of clinical experiences. These experiences may involve volunteering or working in a nursing home. You also may volunteer or work in an intensive care unit in a hospital or at a rehabilitation hospital that caters to the aging. You will gain hands on experience to take into your professional role later.

Once you complete your educational programs, your next step would involve getting certified or licensed to actually work as a healthcare worker to the aging. This process alone could require you to take an extensive examination and pay a fee for the licensing or certification. The agency that awards you it will most likely expect you to renew it every few years.

The job you take will involve taking care of people who are above the age of 55. They may be on special diets and must be monitored every meal time to ensure they are getting enough calories. They likewise could require supervision when they exercise to keep their bodies healthy and strong.

You also might encounter patients who need assistance with the process of dying. Some people may be afraid of dying or want closure with their families. You might guide them in resolving themselves to the natural end of their lives and help them find peace with leaving loved ones behind after they are gone.

With this in mind, you may decide it is worth your time studying to become a geriatric nurse or at least a practitioner who works with the aging. This segment of the population is the fastest growing among all age groups. They have special needs that only healthcare workers who are trained in this aspect of medical care can meet.




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