Nursing considerations in the geriatric surgical patient: the perioperative continuum of care

Abstract

Although aging is a natural process, caring for an older person is not the same as caring for a middle-aged adult person. The perioperative and perianesthesia nurses need to be competent in geriatric nursing care and possess specialized knowledge and skills related to a myriad of geriatric issues. This article focuses on the special needs of the elderly population and how the perioperative nursing team may address their care best.