American Association for Retired Persons - Essay Example

            The roles of a geriatric nurse specialist mainly revolve around the provision of mental and physical care for elderly patients (Eliopoulos, 2005). The main roles geriatric nurses offer to elderly patients include aiding physicians in the examination of elderly patients to ensure there are well examined and given the required treatment and assist in managing pain. A geriatric nurse also provides treatment to elderly patients through administering drugs and equipment set up for their wellbeing and support services, link patient to local resources, and assesses patient’s mental and cognitive skills. Reporting patient’s progress through behavior, conditions, and reactions reports, carry out routing tests including temperature, pulse rate, blood pressure, feed, and bath patients, and provision of interpersonal communication with both the patient and family for decision-making and support (Bensing, May 1997).  

            The roles of a nurse registered with BSN towards the elderly patients include the provision of both physical and emotional support, facilitate self-expression, and enhance relations (Young, 2003). Restorative roles of a registered nurse include preventing continued deterioration of the patient, washing and dressing, increasing independence and functionality. Educative roles include teaching the patient to self-medicate, ensuring adequate nutrition and pain relief from the other roles of a registered nurse. The other services provided by a registered nurse if managing the home and patient care environment and guiding other staff members in the provision of the best health care for the patients.

            The point of difference between the roles done by a geriatric nurse and a registered nurse is that the geriatric nurse specializes in the care for elderly patients and has more special attention to the elderly patients compared to a registered nurse who is a generalist. The roles performed by a registered nurse to an elderly patient are similar to the roles they perform to other patients while a geriatric nurse specifically provides services to the elderly.   

            The main legislative agenda that the AARP can support, as a measure of expanding the roles of nurses is a legislative agenda, that aim at improving the incentives for primary care providers to augment risk assessment and prevention of falls in nursing tasks among the elderly and that incorporate assessment and risk falls in teaching and development of nurses. These legislations include Senate Bill 2228 in Hawaii, House Bill 99 I New Mexico, and Conn. Gen. Stat. 17b- 33 in Connecticut.