A geriatric nurse, also called a gerontology or gerontological nurse, is a registered nurse who specializes in caring for older adults. Geriatric nurses manage patients with several chronic conditions at once, prevent falls and delirium, untangle complicated medication lists, support people living with dementia and help older adults stay as healthy, independent and comfortable as possible. With every baby boomer turning 65 or older by 2030, geriatric nursing is one of the fastest-growing needs in health care.
This guide covers what gerontology means, what geriatric nurses do, common geriatric syndromes, the Age-Friendly 4Ms, where geriatric nurses work, how to become one, the Gero-BC certification, adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNP and AGACNP), salary and how to celebrate the nurses who care for our elders.
In this guide
- What is gerontology?
- What is a geriatric nurse?
- What does a geriatric nurse do?
- Common geriatric syndromes
- The Age-Friendly 4Ms
- Where do geriatric nurses work?
- How to become a geriatric nurse
- Gero-BC and other certifications
- Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNP and AGACNP)
- Geriatric care managers
- How much do geriatric nurses make?
- What is it like to be a geriatric nurse?
- A short history of geriatric nursing
- Celebrating geriatric nurses
- Geriatric nurse humor
- Frequently asked questions
What is gerontology?
Gerontology is the study of aging, including its physical, mental and social effects. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine focused on the health care of older adults. In nursing, the terms are used almost interchangeably:
- Gerontology vs geriatrics: gerontology is broader and covers aging as a whole (including sociology, psychology and public policy), while geriatrics focuses on diagnosing and treating health problems in older adults.
- Gerontological nursing is the official name of the nursing specialty, and it combines both: caring for older adults' health problems while supporting healthy aging.
What is a geriatric nurse?
A geriatric nurse is an RN (or LPN) with specialized knowledge of how aging affects the body, mind and daily life. Older adults often have several chronic conditions, take many medications and show illness differently than younger adults. For example, a urinary tract infection may show up as sudden confusion instead of a fever. Geriatric nurses are trained to catch those subtle changes.
What does a geriatric nurse do?
- Comprehensive assessments: checking physical health, cognition, mood, mobility, nutrition, skin and home safety
- Managing chronic diseases: heart failure, diabetes, COPD, arthritis, kidney disease and more, often all in the same patient
- Medication review: spotting duplications, interactions and drugs that are risky for older adults
- Fall prevention: assessing fall risk and putting safety plans in place
- Dementia and delirium care: recognizing sudden confusion, calming agitation and supporting families
- Skin care: preventing and treating pressure injuries (see our wound care nurse guide)
- Advance care planning: helping patients and families talk about goals of care and end-of-life wishes
- Family and caregiver support: teaching, coordinating services and helping with difficult decisions
Common geriatric syndromes
"Geriatric syndromes" are health problems that are especially common in older adults and often have several causes at once:
| Syndrome | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Falls | About one in four adults 65 and older falls each year, and falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in older adults, according to the CDC. |
| Delirium | Sudden confusion, often caused by infection, surgery, dehydration or medications. It is common in hospitalized older adults and often missed. |
| Dementia | Gradual loss of memory and thinking, including Alzheimer's disease. It affects safety, communication and every part of care. |
| Polypharmacy | Taking many medications, which increases the risk of side effects, interactions and falls. |
| Incontinence | Bladder and bowel problems that affect skin, dignity and quality of life. |
| Pressure injuries | Fragile skin and limited mobility raise the risk of skin breakdown. |
| Frailty and malnutrition | Weight loss, weakness and low activity that make recovery from illness harder. |
Geriatric nurses often use tools like the American Geriatrics Society Beers Criteria, a list of medications that may be inappropriate for older adults, when reviewing medication lists.
The Age-Friendly 4Ms
Many hospitals and clinics now follow the Age-Friendly Health Systems framework from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and The John A. Hartford Foundation. It focuses care on the 4Ms:
- What Matters: asking each older adult about their own goals and preferences and building care around them
- Medication: using medications that do not interfere with what matters, mobility or mentation
- Mentation: preventing and managing delirium, dementia and depression
- Mobility: helping older adults move safely every day to keep function and independence
Where do geriatric nurses work?
- Nursing homes and skilled nursing facilities: long-term care and short-term rehab after hospital stays
- Assisted living communities: supporting residents who need some help but live more independently
- Hospitals: including specialized acute care for elders (ACE) units and geriatric emergency departments
- Home health and hospice: caring for older adults at home (see our home health nurse guide)
- Memory care units: specialized care for people living with dementia
- Primary care and geriatric clinics: managing chronic conditions and prevention
- PACE programs: the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, which help older adults stay in the community
How to become a geriatric nurse
- Earn a nursing license. Complete an LPN program or an RN program (ADN or BSN) and pass the NCLEX.
- Get experience with older adults. Med-surg, long-term care, rehab and home health are all common starting points. (See our med-surg nurse guide.)
- Build geriatric knowledge, including dementia care, fall prevention, the Beers Criteria and advance care planning.
- Earn the Gero-BC after two years of RN experience.
- Consider advancing to a director of nursing role, a geriatric clinical nurse specialist or an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner.
Gero-BC and other certifications
- Gero-BC (Gerontological Nursing Certification): offered by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Eligibility generally requires an active RN license, the equivalent of two years of full-time RN practice, 2,000 hours of clinical practice in gerontological nursing within the last three years and 30 hours of continuing education in gerontological nursing within the last three years. Check ANCC for current requirements.
- Dementia care certifications: several organizations offer dementia care training and credentials for nurses and other staff.
- Wound care and hospice certifications: common add-ons for nurses in long-term care.
The National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA) is the main professional organization for geriatric nurses.
Adult-gerontology nurse practitioners (AGNP and AGACNP)
Many nurses who love caring for older adults become adult-gerontology nurse practitioners. There are two tracks:
| AGPCNP (primary care) | AGACNP (acute care) | |
|---|---|---|
| Patients | Adolescents, adults and older adults | Adolescents, adults and older adults |
| Settings | Clinics, long-term care, home visits, PACE | Hospitals, ICUs, emergency departments, specialty services |
| Focus | Prevention, chronic disease management, wellness | Acutely and critically ill patients |
Unlike family nurse practitioners, adult-gerontology NPs do not care for young children. Learn more in our complete guide to nurse practitioners.
Geriatric care managers
A geriatric care manager (also called an aging life care professional) helps older adults and families plan and coordinate care, from finding the right assisted living community to managing appointments and benefits. Many are nurses or social workers. It is a popular path for experienced geriatric nurses who want to work more independently.
How much do geriatric nurses make?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics does not publish a separate salary for geriatric nurses, because it groups them with all registered nurses. The median annual wage for registered nurses was $97,550 in May 2025, according to the BLS. LPNs earn less than RNs, and nurse practitioners earned a BLS median of $132,300.
Geriatric nurse pay depends on setting (hospital, long-term care or home health), role (staff nurse, charge nurse, director of nursing), location, certification and shift differentials.
What is it like to be a geriatric nurse?
Geriatric nursing takes patience, curiosity and a big heart. Challenges include complex patients, heavy workloads in some long-term care settings, caring for people with dementia and frequent end-of-life care.
The rewards are just as real. Geriatric nurses build long relationships with patients and families, hear incredible life stories and help people keep their dignity, independence and sense of self. Many say they get to know their patients better than in any other specialty.
A short history of geriatric nursing
- 1960s: British nurse Doreen Norton helps establish geriatric nursing as a specialty and creates the Norton Scale for pressure injury risk. In the United States, Medicare and Medicaid are created in 1965.
- 1966: the American Nurses Association forms a division focused on geriatric nursing.
- 1970s: the ANA begins offering certification in gerontological nursing, one of its earliest specialty certifications.
- 1984: the National Gerontological Nursing Association is founded.
- 1987: the Nursing Home Reform Act (part of OBRA '87) sets national standards for nursing home care.
- 2017: the Age-Friendly Health Systems initiative and the 4Ms framework launch.
- Today: older adults are the largest group of patients in most hospitals, so every nurse practices some geriatric nursing.
Celebrating geriatric nurses
May is Older Americans Month, and it overlaps with National Nurses Week (May 6 to 12). National Nursing Home Week, also in May, is another great time to celebrate long-term care nurses.
Ideas for geriatric nursing teams
- Have residents and families write thank-you notes for the staff.
- Host a breakfast or lunch for every shift, including nights.
- Sponsor Gero-BC or dementia care certification fees.
- Recognize the CNAs, activity staff and aides who spend the most time with residents.
Gifts for geriatric nurses
A throwback design your residents will probably say reminds them of the good old days. $29.99
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For the coffee that fuels morning med passes and afternoon bingo. $15.99
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For resident notes, family meeting prep or Gero-BC studying. $17.99
Shop now →Geriatric nurse humor
- "Patience of a saint." (Also a sticker.)
- "My patients have better stories than any podcast." (See our Stories & Smiles sticker.)
- "I've been proposed to three times this week. All over 90."
- "Yes, I'll find your glasses. They're on your head."
- "My residents tell me I'm too skinny and try to feed me pudding every shift."
- "Bingo day is the most competitive sport in the building."
Frequently asked questions
What does a geriatric nurse do?
Geriatric nurses care for older adults. They manage chronic diseases, review medications, prevent falls, care for people with dementia and delirium, prevent pressure injuries, support families and help with advance care planning.
What is the difference between gerontology and geriatrics?
Gerontology is the broad study of aging, including its physical, mental and social effects. Geriatrics is the branch of medicine focused on the health care of older adults. Gerontological nursing combines both.
Is a geriatric nurse the same as a gerontology nurse?
Yes. The terms geriatric nurse, gerontology nurse and gerontological nurse all describe nurses who specialize in caring for older adults.
What certification do geriatric nurses get?
The main certification is the Gero-BC (Gerontological Nursing Certification) from the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which generally requires two years of RN experience, 2,000 hours of gerontological nursing practice and 30 hours of related continuing education.
What is an AGACNP?
An AGACNP is an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner, an advanced practice nurse who cares for acutely and critically ill adolescents, adults and older adults, usually in hospitals.
What is the difference between an AGNP and an FNP?
An adult-gerontology nurse practitioner (AGNP) cares for adolescents, adults and older adults, while a family nurse practitioner (FNP) cares for patients of all ages, including children.
How much do geriatric nurses make?
BLS does not report geriatric nurse pay separately. Registered nurses overall earned a median of $97,550 in May 2025. Pay varies by setting, role, location and certification.
When is Older Americans Month?
Older Americans Month is celebrated every May in the United States, overlapping with National Nurses Week.
Exploring other specialties? See our full guide to nurse specialties and the types of nurses.
Celebrate the geriatric nurses in your life
For Older Americans Month, Nurses Week or a new Gero-BC: gifts for the nurses who care for our elders.
Shop the Geriatric Collection →Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook: Registered Nurses
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Older Adult Fall Prevention
- U.S. Census Bureau, Older Population and Aging projections
- Institute for Healthcare Improvement, Age-Friendly Health Systems and the 4Ms
- American Geriatrics Society, Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults
- American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), Gerontological Nursing Certification (Gero-BC)
- National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA)