Gerontology and geriatrics: Considerations for the acute care nurse practitioner

A large percentage of the acute care nurse practitioner's patient populatio n is elderly. The aging patient is subject to significant physiologic, soci al, psychologic, and developmental changes that will impact survival of and recovery from the acute care experience. Ethical dilemmas and ageist attit udes are not uncommon in the acute care environment and the acute care nurs e practitioner, as the patient advocate, will sometimes have to manage care around these obstacles. Understanding (1) manifestations of homeostenosis, such as decreased cardiac and pulmonary reserve, reduced hepatic metabolis m, and decreases in sensory and motor function; (2) developmental tasks uni que to aging, such as Erikson's ego integrity versus despair; and (3) socia l issues, such as loss of occupation, loss of family members, and loss of f inancial stability will maximize not only assessment and treatment of acute illness, but discharge planning and recidivism reduction. Copyright (C) 20 01 by W.B. Saunders Company.