Geriatric Nursing Geriatric nursing is a sincere profession that allows you to connect with patients. Gerontology is a nurse who works in the field of geriatrics focusing on the care of the elderly. This career is highly recommended because older people are more likely to need healthcare services. Most hospitals have patients over the age of 65, and only 1% of nurses are certified in geriatrics. Geriatric nurses are trained to understand and treat the physical and mental health needs of older adults. They help and assist with the mental and physical changes that occur in their time. Geriatric nurses help seniors to be independent and active for as long as possible. Geriatric nurses must provide disease prevention, health promotion, and positive aging. The American Journal of Nursing, the American Nurses Association, and the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing contributed to the development of gerontological nursing (Pierre, “Gerontological Nursing”). In 2001, the John A. Hartford Foundation awarded the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) a $3.99 million grant to launch a new initiative entitled “Enhancing Geriatric Nursing Education in Undergraduate Advanced Practice Nursing Programs” ( AACN, “Caring for an Aging America”). In the early 1960s, the ANA created a group of nurses to convene the first national geriatric nursing study. Geriatric nursing offers a comprehensive view of elder care. Florence Nightingale and Doreen Norton provided insights into caring for the elderly. Nightingale was the first nurse of her position to become a geriatric nurse in nursing homes. Norton helped care for the elderly for a while, but later wrote ...... middle of the paper... nt. We can alleviate fears and anxieties by connecting with our patients and our families, this means a warm blanket, a hand to hold, a handkerchief to dry tears, encouraging words, understanding eyes, a shoulder to lean on and a nurse to trust,” said Kelly Walsh, BSN, RN, thoracic surgical coordinator at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. (Author Unknown, “What I Love About Nursing”). Technology always changes for nurses, it gives us hope for those who shake our hands and say "thank you" which makes us love what we do. But there is nothing better than saving another person's life. And at the end of the day, it's nice to know that you've given someone else the gift of a lifetime.