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“The primary function of a gerontology nurse is to collaborate with patients, the local community and families in order to deliver the highest possible quality of life to the elderly,”

…explains bestmasterofscienceinnursing.com, naming five specific characteristics needed for nurses to succeed in the field of gerontology, including:

patience
compassion
attention to detail
creativeness
consistency

Gerontology is a rapidly growing field that offers great professional opportunities for nursing professionals. At the same time, geriatrics presents unique challenges, as registerednursing.org is careful to discuss in detail:

- Nurses must identify their own coping mechanisms, as facing the issues of death and dying can lead to anxiety and depression.
- Impaired mobility, memory disturbances, and illness make elderly patients more difficult to handle.
- The abuse and neglect many older patients have suffered before arriving at the care facility is difficult for nurses to handle.
- Age-related body changes, chronic health conditions, and the side effects of medications all serve to make patient care of the elderly more intense and demanding for nurses.

As the AARP partners with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to form the Future of Nursing Campaign for Action, chief among the clinical practice problems they discovered were:

- skin care
- fall prevention
- dementia care
- advanced directives

When it comes to skin care, Action Products has been part of the pressure injury prevention initiative since its inception, with the key element in our company’s products being the Akton© gel used in chair cushions, adaptive pads, and mattress overlays, all designed for preserving skin integrity and the prevention of pressure injuries.

Geriatrics requires compassionate, creative, and consistent nursing, but the field also requires products that avoid pressure injuries in a very vulnerable patient population!

Wheelchair Cushions
Action® The Pilot™ wheelchair cushion

Adaptive Pads
Action® Adaptive Cube Pad

Mattress Overlays
Action® Mattress Overlay with Hitch

Pressure Injuries Can Affect Patients for a Lifetime

by Sally Fulmer | September 17, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

Hospital acquired pressure injuries (HAPI) can cause severe pain and even death to the patient. When HAPIs are discussed among healthcare managers, cost comes first to mind. However, there are other concerns healthcare workers should consider. First and foremost is...

Enhancing Patient Safety with Viscoelastic Gel Overlays in Surgical Positioning

by The Action Products Team | July 29, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

Surgical nurses play a critical role in protecting patients from positioning-related pressure injuries during surgical procedures. One of the most effective tools to support this mission is the viscoelastic gel overlay, a material designed to reduce pressure, enhance...

Take the Time for a “Time Out”

by The Action Products Team | June 11, 2025 | Action Products, Inc., Surgical Patient Safety | 0 Comments

The “Time Out” The “time out” is one part of the Universal Protocol developed by the Joint Commission to prevent wrong-site, wrong-procedure, and wrong-person surgery. Each are considered never events by the National Quality Forum and sentinel events by the Joint...

Pressure Injuries in Ambulatory Surgical Centers

by The Action Products Team | June 11, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

An ambulatory surgical center (ASC) is a healthcare facility that focuses on providing same-day surgical care that includes diagnostic and preventative surgery. When looking at the ASC, it has transformed the outpatient surgical experience for millions of Americans by...

Gel Overlays: A Head-to-Toe Tool in the Prevention of Perioperative Pressure Injuries

by The Action Products Team | May 1, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

Amos Schonrock, MAN, RN, ST, PHN, CSSM, CNAMB, CNOR, NE-BCPerioperative Practice and Safety SpecialistAs perioperative professionals, the operating room team has a constant dedication and calling to the creation and maintenance of an environment that keeps our patient...

Supine Positioning: Enhanced Approaches to a Common Surgical Routine

Amos Schonrock, MAN, RN, ST, PHN, CSSM, CNAMB, CNOR, NE-BCPerioperative Practice and Safety SpecialistOne of the highly common surgical positions is supine. This approach involves the surgical team’s watchful eyes to oversee a patient that will lie on their back with...

Pressure Injuries: Protect your Patients in Extreme Surgical Positions

by The Action Products Team | April 22, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

Some surgical procedures require extreme positioning to ensure that the targeted surgical area is accessible to the surgeon and the surgical team. Extreme positioning requires extreme positioning devices, manufactured to meet the need for surgical access....

Safe Lateral Position for Improved Team and Patient Outcomes

by The Action Products Team | April 20, 2025 | Action Products, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety | 0 Comments

The lateral surgical position is one of the most labor-intensive surgical positions that depends on brute force and team strength. The lateral position is not only physically taxing on the staff, but also can be as hard on the patient; therefore, it is important to...

Pressure Injuries in the Neonatal Population

by The Action Products Team | April 18, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Inc., Pediatric Positioning, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

Typically, when we think of skin injury prevention in the acute care setting, we think of that immobile, post trauma, geriatric or surgical patient. There is a plethora of literature and research around the subject yet each year, more than 2.5 million people in the...

Protect the Heels with Evidence Based Interventions

by The Action Products Team | April 10, 2025 | Action Products, Decubitus Ulcer Prevention, Gel Pad, Gel Positioner, Hospital Acquired Pressure Ulcers, Inc., Patient Positioning, Positioning The Patient, Pressure Injury, Pressure Redistribution, Pressure Sore, Pressure Sore Prevention, Pressure Ulcer Education, Pressure Ulcer Management, Surgery Patient Positioning, Surgical Patient Safety, Viscoelastic Polymer, Wound Prevention | 0 Comments

The supine position is the most common surgical position with the patient lying on their back with the head, neck and spine in a neutral position. This position is not without pressure injury risk as there is increased pressure and shear forces to the scapula,...

Geriatrics Requires Compassionate, Consistent, and Creative Nursing