Individuals who are interested in working as a geriatric nurse can pursue a diploma or an associate or bachelor's degree in the field. Diploma programs are offered at about 70 hospitals across the country and mirror the hands-on training of an apprenticeship. Many schools offer associate degree programs, which typically take two to three years to complete, and include both course work and nursing internships. About 850 programs offer this type of degree. Bachelor's degree programs in geriatric nursing take about four years to complete and feature a large amount of time in a clinical setting. About 700 programs offer this four-year degree. Graduate degrees and certificates in geriatric nursing also are available for registered nurses. In addition, intensive programs exist for individuals who have a bachelor's degree in another field and want to study geriatric nursing in 12 to 18 months.
Geriatric nursing training programs prepare students to gain the field experience and education they need to be certified. The American Nurses Credentialing Center offers three main categories of certification for geriatric nurses---one for registered nurses, and two for advanced nurse practitioners, according to AllNursingSchools.com. To qualify for certification, nurses must hold a current, active registered nurse license, have graduated from an accredited nursing school program and meet specific hours of practice and education requirements. Certifications are available as a gerontological nurse specialist, clinical nurse specialist in gerontological nursing and gerontological nurse practitioner.
Courses in geriatric nursing training programs cover topics such as medical terminology, nutrition, anatomy and physiology, medical ethics and law, human growth/development and chemistry for healthcare workers. Classes also might cover special topics such as diabetes, cataracts and impotence, according to Breyer State University, which offers a certificate program in gerontological nursing that is open to registered nurses or licensed vocational nurses. Students additionally might learn about how to handle osteoarthritis, urinary incontinence or dementia.
With training in geriatric nursing, individuals can find work in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and hospitals. Geriatric nurses also can work in home health, long-term care units, community care or outpatient clinics, according to Learn4Good.com.
This field is growing because patients older than 65 comprise almost half of hospital patients and 90 percent of those receiving nursing home care, according to Education-Portal.com. These figures will continue to grow as the Baby Boomer generation ages as well. The median expected salary for a typical geriatric registered nurse in late 2009 was $57,648, according to Salary.com.