Geriatric Nurses

Employers

There are more than 3.3 million registered nurses, including geriatric nurses, working in the United States, according to the Department of Labor. Geriatric nurses work in a variety of settings, depending on their education and personal goals. Many geriatric nurses work in nursing homes, hospitals, retirement communities, or clinics. They may also work in hospice and home care or community nursing programs; others work in private offices for gerontologists or at government agencies. Nurses who teach or do research are most often in academic settings, usually in buildings that are well lighted, comfortable, and busy. Although opportunities are found throughout the country, the largest number of positions are found in areas of the country (such as the Southwest and Southeast) that have a large number of senior citizens.

Starting Out

Once you have become a registered nurse, you can apply directly to hospitals, nursing homes, government agencies, and other organizations that hire nurses and offer opportunities to work with older patients. In addition, your school's career services office should have information on job openings. Nurses' associations and their Web sites, professional journals, and newspapers also frequently advertise open positions.