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Gerontological Nursing - Evidence-based nursing specialty practice that…
Gerontological Nursing - Evidence-based nursing specialty practice that addresses the unique physiological, psychological, developmental, economic, cultural and spiritual needs related to the process of aging and care of older adults.
Gerontology, is a scientific study of the effects and time on human development, specifically the study of older persons. This type of study began as an inquiry into the characteristics of long-lived people, which is still valid today.
History
Gerontological Nursing has emerged as a circumscribed area of practice within the last six decades. Before this it was seen as the application of general principles of nursing to older adult client with little recognition of this area of medical nursing as a specialty area.
The foundation of gerontological nursing was largely by a small group of nurse pioneers, who saw early on that older individuals had special needs and required the most subtle, holistic, and complex nursing care.
Nurse pioneers presented seminal thoughts and investigated new ideas about elderly care, refuted mythical tales and fantasies about aging and found realities through investigation, clinical observation, practice and documentation
The origins began with Florence Nightingale, through her concern for the sick and frail elderly
Gerontological Nursing Roles encompass every imaginable venue and circumstance, including personal care, restorative care and rehabilitation.
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Older adults are the largest consumers of healthcare services in all settings and the majority of nurses today are caring for geriatric patients.
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Collaborates with older adults and their significant others to promote autonomy, wellness, optimal function, comfort, and quality of life from health gain to the end of life.
Lead the inter-professional team in a holistic person-centred approach. Nurses advocate, educate, manage, consult and conduct research about issues, trends and opportunities related to aging and its effect on older people.
Geriatrics is the branch of medicine dealing with illness and old age, care in this field is concerned with the physiological and psychological aspects of aging and with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases affecting older adults
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Advance Directive[AD]
Legally binding documents allowing competent people to document what care and treatments they would or would not want to receive if they weren't capable of making decisions and communicating their wishes.
Enable people to appoint a surrogate who is a person responsible for communicating their wishes if they become incompetent or are unable to communicate them,
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Provides legal assurance that the older persons preferences will be considered when they cannot communicate these.
Can be used to facilitate discussion and must be drawn up when the person is capable of understanding their intent and they become effective only when the person lacks the capacity to make particular health related decisions.