Becoming a Geriatric Nurse: Salary Info & Job Description

About this article
A geriatric nurse's median annual salary is around $67,000, but is it worth the lengthy education requirements? Read real job descriptions and see the truth about career prospects to decide if becoming a geriatric nurse is right for you.
  • Pros and Cons
  • Career Info
  • Requirements
  • Get an Edge
  • Related Jobs

Pros and Cons of Becoming a Geriatric Nurse

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Becoming a geriatric nurse gives you the opprtunity to work with older and elderly adults, which can be very rewarding. But to know whether this career is right for you, first take a look at the pros and cons listed below.

Pros of a Career as a Geriatric Nurse
High demand field (19% projected growth through 2022)*
Wide variety of jobs available****
Global job market*
Well-paying job ($67,000 median salary for nurses in 2014)*
Higher pay at the advanced practice level ($67,000-$106,000 salary range in 2015)**
Job satisfaction*

Cons of a Career as a Geriatric Nurse
Initial education requirements (4-6+ years)*
Evening and weekend shifts*
Continuing education and credentialing requirements***
Management of multiple patients*
Emotional strain*

Source: *U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, **Payscale.com, ***American Nurses Credentialing Center, ****Multiple job listings from May 2012

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  • Pros and Cons
  • Career Info
  • Requirements
  • Get an Edge
  • Related Jobs

Popular Schools

  • Online Programs Available
    1. Purdue Global

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      • Master of Science - DNP Executive Leader
      • MSN-DNP Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Master of Science - DNP Path (Doctor of Nursing Practice)
      • Doctor of Health Sciences
    Master's
      • Master of Science - DNP Adult Nurse Practitioner
      • MS in Nursing - Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
      • Master of Science in Nursing - MSN/MBA Dual Degree Option
      • MSN - Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
      • Master of Science - DNP Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
      • MSN - Family nurse practitioner primary care population
    Associate's
      • Associate of Science in Health Science
      • Associate of Science in Health SciencePreprofessional
    Certificate
      • Human Services - Elder Care Services Certificate
  • Online Programs Available
    2. National University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership
      • PhD - Gerontology
      • EdD - Nursing Education
    Master's
      • MSN - Management and Organizational Leadership
      • MSN - Quality and Safety
  • Online Programs Available
    3. Grand Canyon University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership
    Master's
      • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
      • Bridge MSN Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
      • MS in Nursing: Public Health (Bridge)
      • MS in Nursing: Health Care Informatics (Bridge)
      • MS in Nursing: Nursing Leadership in Health Care Systems
      • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Informatics
  • Online Programs Available
    4. Liberty University

    Program Options

    Master's
      • MSN: Health Policy
      • MSN: M.S.N. & M.B.A. (Dual Degree)
      • MSN: Community Health
      • MSN: M.S.N. & M.S. in Healthcare Administration (Dual Degree)
      • MSN: Nursing Administration
      • MSN: Nursing Informatics
  • Online Programs Available
    5. Colorado Christian University

    Program Options

    Doctorate
      • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
    Master's
      • Nursing, MSN - Clinical Care Management in Adult and Geriatric
      • Nursing, MSN - Nursing Education
    Bachelor's
      • Nursing, BSN RN-BSN
  • Nashville, TN

    Vanderbilt University

  • Philadelphia, PA

    University of Pennsylvania

  • Iowa City, IA

    University of Iowa

Featured Schools

Purdue Global

  • Master of Science -DNP Path Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
  • Master of Science - DNP Adult Nurse Practitioner
  • Associate of Science in Health Science
  • Human Services - Elder Care Services Certificate

Which subject are you interested in?

National University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership
  • PhD - Gerontology
  • MSN - Management and Organizational Leadership
  • MSN - Quality and Safety

What is your highest level of education?

Grand Canyon University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
  • Doctor of Nursing Practice with an Emphasis in Educational Leadership
  • M.S. in Nursing with an Emphasis in Health Care Quality & Patient Safety
  • Bridge MSN Health Care Quality & Patient Safety

What is your highest level of education?

Liberty University

  • MSN: Health Policy
  • MSN: M.S.N. & M.B.A. (Dual Degree)
  • MSN: Community Health

What is your highest level of education?

Colorado Christian University

  • Doctor of Nursing Practice, DNP
  • Nursing, MSN - Clinical Care Management in Adult and Geriatric
  • Nursing, BSN RN-BSN

What is your highest level of education completed?