How To Become A Gerontological Nurse Practitioner: What It Is and Career Path

What is a gerontological nurse practitioner and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025

4 min read

Quoted Expert

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Gerontological nurse practitioners are certified primary healthcare providers who help elderly patients manage the physical, mental, and social needs of their age. You'll provide cost-effective and quality health care services to elderly patients. You'll perform check-ups, conduct tests, analyze results, and prescribe medications.

Also, you'll develop and implement individualized healthcare plans based on patient needs, insurance restrictions, and available resources. The gerontological nurse practitioner provides restorative, preventative, and palliative care. Similarly, he/she makes use of disease prevention and treatment strategies.

These practitioners can work in nursing homes, rehabilitation hospitals, patient's homes, and personal offices. Their salary can be as high as $173,500 in a year, with it being as low as $25,000. On average, they earn $111,870. For this role, you must possess leadership and coordination skills. You must have at least a master's or doctoral degree and a certification from an authorized body.

What general advice would you give to a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner?

Lisa Rebeschi Ph.D.

Associate Dean of the School of Nursing Professor of Nursing, Quinnipiac University

One of the suggestions for new graduates is the importance of self-care. We have long known of the demanding nature of the nursing practice. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the nursing role's critical importance and the unique contributions made by nursing professionals. As the healthcare environment is extremely complex and challenging, nurses must remember to advocate for themselves and prioritize self-care.

ScoreGerontological Nurse PractitionerUS Average

Salary

7.7

Avg. Salary $104,505

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level

10.0

Growth Rate 6%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity

6.3

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.44%

Asian 9.16%

Black or African American 11.81%

Hispanic or Latino 9.10%

Unknown 4.27%

White 65.22%

Gender

female 84.23%

male 15.77%

Age - 43

Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 43

Stress Level

10.0

Stress level is very high

7.1 - high

Complexity Level

9.1

Complexity Level is advanced

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance

7.8

Work Life balance is good

6.4 - fair

Key steps to become a gerontological nurse practitioner

Explore gerontological nurse practitioner education requirements

Most common gerontological nurse practitioner degrees

Master's

42.4 %

Bachelor's

41.0 %

Associate

9.0 %

Start to develop specific gerontological nurse practitioner skills

Skills	Percentages
Patients	20.56%
Primary Care	8.61%
Health Promotion	7.11%
Physical Examinations	6.83%
Acute Care	5.00%

Complete relevant gerontological nurse practitioner training and internships

Accountants spend an average of 3-6 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New gerontological nurse practitioners learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a gerontological nurse practitioner based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real gerontological nurse practitioner resumes.

Research gerontological nurse practitioner duties and responsibilities

Manage care of patients on an inpatient cardiopulmonary rehabilitation unit under the supervision of a physician preceptor.
Evaluate and treat adult patients with urgent episodic medical issues in a fast-pace environment under nurse practitioner supervision.
Complete documents for state fund Medicaid programs, admission into community nursing and group home facilities and other community resources available.
Perform focused assessments base on primary site of cancer and other systems affect by chemotherapy.

Prepare your gerontological nurse practitioner resume

When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your gerontological nurse practitioner resume.

You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a gerontological nurse practitioner resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

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