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Nurses in elder care centers play a vital role in providing comprehensive care to older adults. These specialized healthcare professionals combine clinical expertise with compassion to address the unique needs of the elderly population.
Nurses play a fundamental part in the hierarchy of the healthcare industry, and play an important part in ensuring the well-being of their patients, something that is commonly overlooked by most people. However, with the rise in population, the demand for skilled healthcare providers is exponentially increasing in many provinces. During 2023-2024, there has been a 40% increase for Nursing job listings in Ontario, with Alberta following with a 21% increase as well. Moreover, there are as many as 27.9 million nurses in the world, including 460,000 nurses in Canada, with an approximate annual pay of $90,000 a year. Moving on, Nurses work in many sectors of the healthcare industry, such as 'Elder Care centers'. In Eldercare Centers, nurses assess the health, administer medication, supervise the elders, and so on.
Registered Nurses(RNs)
Licenced Practical Nurses(LPNs)
Geriatric Nurses
First of all, we have Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) who deliver essential patient care through direct practices which they provide, usually in elder care facilities. LPN candidates need to pursue one-year programs such as diplomas or certificates at community colleges and vocational schools to achieve their education qualification. Completing their nursing education requires LPNs to pass the Regulatory Exam – Practical Nurse (REX-PN) to get their nursing license. The duties of LPNs in elder care settings include checking vital signs while assisting with the daily activities of residents and giving medications under supervision. Healthcare facilities require LPN practitioners to work under medical oversight from Registered Nurses (RNs) and doctors as they deliver patient care. Elderly patient health support becomes possible through the educational program that prepares nurses with the required skills and knowledge. LPN healthcare professionals form an essential part of healthcare by delivering improved quality care to patients under their medical attention.
When cases become more complicated, the registered nurse takes over the responsibility of the Licensed Practical Nurses. Registered nurses, sometimes also known as "RNs", play an important role in maintaining & monitoring the health of elderly individuals in elder care centers. Some of their core duties include assessing patients and developing care plans, monitoring vital signs, and administering a variety of medications, treatments, and vaccines. Registered nurses are found in many healthcare sectors, and the industry has its unique responsibilities. In Canada, to work as a Registered Nurse, one must have either a 4-year Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN) or some colleges offer a 2-3 year long nursing diploma. After that, students must complete the NCLEX-RN licence Exam which tests nursing knowledge and skills at the entry-to-practice level, and then register with the provincial body they wish to practice in.
Geriatric nurses are a type of registered nurse who specialize in taking care of elderly patients and are trained to address specific health challenges that the elder population may face, such as age related diseases and chronic pain. In most healthcare settings, the most common roles for Registered nurses are; help patients with light exercises, taking and recording patients' vital signs, assisting physicians with procedures, educating patients and their families on treatment options for chronic conditions, and conducting comprehensive medical assessments. The requirements to become a Geriatric nurse are the same as a registered nurse, but the candidates will need at least 2 years of bedside nursing/ registered nursing experiences before considering a speciality area such as Gerontology. One of the most successful and popular gerontology certificate options in Canada is 'The Canadian Nurse Association Gerontology Certification. Anyone who wishes to work as a geriatric nurse is recommended to obtain this certification. Becoming such a nurse can be an exceptionally rewarding nursing career option as one can apply a mix of biological and psychological methods to study/nurture the elderly.
Nursing is the largest healthcare profession in the world and is vital to any healthcare setting. Licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, and geriatric nurses, each play a critical role in providing emotional support, assistance, and medical care to the elderly population. As the elderly population grows at an exponential rate, the demand for nursing professions in long-term care settings will definitely increase, making it a viable career option to pursue. By recognizing the efforts and work of these dedicated professionals, as a society, we can foster a collaborative spirit to improve the lives of the elderly in eldercare centers.
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Lisa Lagace. (2024, December 10). Demand for nurses in Canada still high as talent shortage ... Indeed. https://ca.indeed.com/career-advice/news/high-demand-for-nurses#:~:text=While%20demand%20has%20slowed%20in,searched%20by%20employers%20throughout%202023.
What is a geriatric nurse?. Fortis Colleges & Institutes: Accredited Career Training Programs. (2023, December 11). https://www.fortis.edu/blog/nursing/what-is-a-geriatric-nurse-.html#:~:text=They're%20registered%20nurses%20(RNs,may%20monitor%20patients'%20daily%20mobility
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