Geriatric Nurses

Employment for registered nurses is expected to grow by 6 percent through 2033, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Job growth will be especially strong for geriatric nurses as a result of a rapidly increasing elderly population. The U.S. Census Bureau predicts that the population age 65 and over will more than double by 2034 (increasing from approximately 35 million in 2000 to 77 million in 2034). As the older population increases, their need for medical care will also increase. In addition, a report by the Nursing Institute at the University of Illinois predicts that the ratio of caregivers to the elderly population will decrease by 40 percent between 2010 and 2030. As a result, employment prospects for qualified geriatric nurses are nearly limitless.