AS A SPE CIALTY, GE RI AT RIC NURS ING IS ONE OF THE YOUN GEST AND NEW EST
spe cial ties within the field of nurs ing. Prior to the 1950s, care for the
el derly by nurses was seen as part of the nor mal prac tice of nurs ing
care and not as a spe cialty prac tice such as other ar eas of nurs ing,
in clud ing pe di at ric, ob stet ric, or sur gi cal nurs ing. Nev er the less, nurses
have had a long his tory of car ing for the aged long be fore ger on tol ogy
was es tab lished as a sub stan tial dis ci pline within the area of
healthcare.