Introduction
Old age is inevitable and anyone who does not die prematurely must pass through it. According to (reference), the number of Americans aged 65 and above is expected to increase significantly by 2060. The Population Reference Bureau stated that the American healthcare system is not ready for the unique healthcare needs related to the rapidly aging population. Despite the increasing number of older patients, there are just a few physicians certified as Gerontologists. Therefore, there is a need for more professionals to care for the elderly. The nursing profession tries to close this gap by introducing an advanced nursing degree in the field of gerontology: Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner (reference). These specialists are qualified to provide quality care to older people. The purpose of this paper is to discuss Adult-Gerontology Nurse practitioners in detail.
Who is an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner?
The word gerontology is referred to as the study of the aging process. Gerontology focuses on the causes and effects of age-related diseases in humans. Therefore, nurses who specialized in the field of gerontology are called Adult-Gerontology Nurse practitioners. These specialists focus on the care and treatment of adults (reference). An adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner can also be defined as an advanced practice nurse with a clinical focus on treating people from adolescent to adult into advanced age. To be an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner, one must attain further specialized education following their certification as a registered nurse (RN) (reference). Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioners also study among other things, the biological aspects of aging such as the stiffening of the artery walls as well as the social, psychological, and physiological aspects of aging.