As a geriatric nurse, you are responsible for looking after and caring for older people. This includes providing support in everyday life, helping with personal hygiene, administering medication and providing emotional support. Geriatric nurses often work in nursing homes, facilities for the disabled or in people's homes. The work requires not only specialist knowledge, but also empathy and patience.
In addition, geriatric nurses are often responsible for organizing leisure activities and work closely with other professionals, such as doctors and therapists.
To work in geriatric care, you generally need to have completed training as a geriatric nurse. This training takes around three years and combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience in care. In addition to training as a geriatric nurse, it is also possible to train as a healthcare and nursing professional in order to work in geriatric nursing later on. Further and advanced training is also important in order to keep up to date in this field.
There are many career opportunities in geriatric nursing. After completing basic training, you can specialize, for example as a specialist in geriatric psychiatric care or as a nursing home manager. There is also the possibility of working in administration or training new geriatric nurses. Advancements to managerial positions or setting up your own care service are also conceivable.
