Suicidal tendencies increase with age. Geriatric suicide is the leading cause of death among geriatrics all over the world. The aged seem to be somewhat serious about ending their lives. For every successful attempt, there are 9 other unsuccessful ones statistics have shown that 75% of those who successfully committed suicide have consulted a physician within one month prior to their death and 33% saw their physicians 7 days prior death. This points to the fact that medical practitioners (nurses in particular) need to pay more attention to the care of the aged as this would go a long way in stemming the tide of preventable deaths (suicide) among the aged. (Boxwell, 1988)
In a series of trials carried out by the department of health and ageing in November, 2007, it was discovered that the appropriately prepared nurse who has prescribing and diagnostic rights can be a competent complement to the resident physician when it comes to diagnosing, clinically assessing and managing geriatric patients, the thing right now is that patients bear the cost of drugs prescribed by Nurse practitioners, this should change these drugs are appropriate as those prescribed by resident physicians, they work well so there is not need for the dichotomy between the drugs prescribed by nurse practitioners and the ones prescribed by resident physicians. Nurse practitioners can also provide timely medical intervention in times of emergencies.
This can go a long way in saving the lives of these individuals especially in areas that are short of medical physicians. Also, coupled with their wealth of experience as nurses, they can provide communication and close monitoring of patients and serve as administrative staff in monitoring other subordinate medical personnel
REFERENCES.
B. Martin, J. U. Coniglio (1996). The Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in Collaborative Practice. AACN Clinical Issues. Vol 7, Number 2, Pp. 309-314. Myth Busters (2006) . National Nursing and Nursing Education Taskforce. N3ET Ideal Formats. J. garrard, D. M. Radosevich, S. Arnold, S. McDermott (1990). Impact of geriatric Nurse Pracitioners in Nursing-Home Resdents’ Functional Status, Satisfaction, and Discharge Outcomes. MEdical Care. Vol. 28, No. 3. Pp. 271-283) http://www. healthconnect. gov. au/internet/main/publishing. nsf/Content/ageing-workforce-nurse-practitioner-eval-report. htm~ageing-workforce-nurse-practitioner-eval-report-10. htm