Gerontology nursing is a vital segment in the field of healthcare, and it is vital to explore different aspects of it. For instance, there are two main types of gerontology nursing, namely, primary care and acute care. Primary and acute care gerontology nursing types both share certain similarities and have notable differences, which are ultimately reflected in their respective scopes of practice.
First, it is important to provide an overview of the basic elements of the two aforementioned nursing roles. The scope of practice for adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioners postulates that the professional’s main domain is the analysis, diagnosis, and planning for the healthcare needs of older patients. Such nursing practitioners work in different settings, from hospitals to private practices (“Are you considering a career as an adult-gerontology primary care,” 2020). Primary care nurses are usually required to be able to perform various physical examinations, collect medical histories, interpret tests, order screening tests, and provide nonpharmacological and pharmacological therapies to their patients. The primary care specialists work with patients with conditions which are chronic or require routine medical care. Adult-gerontology primary care nurses are similar to family nursing practitioners (FNP), who also usually work in primary care.
The scope of practice for adult-gerontology acute care nursing practitioners (AGACNP) involves the provision of care for patients who have acute and complex conditions. Most frequently, such specialists are engaged in working in intensive care units, trauma and acute care departments (“Are you considering a career as an adult-gerontology acute care,” 2020). A substantial share of such practitioners is involved in tertiary care practice, which means that they work in highly-specialized settings with patients who have acute health conditions. The main domain of acute care gerontology nurses is the delivery of complex monitoring and the creation of advanced treatment plans for patients, focusing on the prevention of complications.
Despite the fact that the two types of nursing practitioners tend to have different roles and tasks, they share certain similarities in the scope of practice. First of all, the scopes of practice of both nursing positions imply that the nurses need to control the well-being of their patients and track their health. Essentially, there is an overlap in the scope of practice since primary and acute care nursing practitioners perform similar tasks. For instance, both primary and acute care nurses are responsible for the development of a therapy plan for their patients. Both types of specialists can work in inpatient hospitals and provide their services in such a setting. Additionally, they specialize in the provision of care to older adults.
At the same time, there are obvious differences between the two types of nursing practitioners. For instance, only acute care nursing specialists work with patients who have sudden and severe conditions, while primary care nurses provide service to people with chronic illnesses. Additionally, the acute care nurses tend to work exclusively in hospitals, namely, in different acute care departments, since they are always ready to offer their services to patients. The primary care nurses can deliver home-based services to clients. Therefore, the acute care nurse role is more appropriate for hospital nursing practitioners. Moreover, the position of acute care nurse is more applicable to my role and setting since I provide services to people with acute conditions.
The area of gerontology nursing involves having primary and acute care nursing practitioners who offer services relevant in two different settings. The primary care nurses work with patients with chronic illnesses and those who do not have sudden fits and attacks. The scope of practice of acute care nursing specialists focuses on the provision of services to people suffering from acute conditions. The latter professionals work more often in the hospital setting than the former ones.
References
Are you considering a career as an adult-gerontology acute care nurse practitioner? (2020). American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Web.