Gerontological Nursing Content in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: Comparison of Findings From 1997 and 2003

doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.07.005

Journal of Professional Nursing

Volume 21, Issue 5, September–October 2005, Pages 268-275

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.07.005 Get rights and content

In 2003, the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing (Hartford Institute), in collaboration with the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, conducted a survey of baccalaureate schools of nursing in the United States to compare gerontological content to baseline data collected by the Hartford Institute in 1997. Since last surveyed in 1997, baccalaureate nursing programs have been the recipients of substantial new resources and initiatives focused on gerontological curriculum enhancement. While these initiatives are ongoing, and some are in an early stage of development, resurveying baccalaureate programs was seen as a means of taking a midcourse “pulse” as to the effectiveness of these efforts. Data suggest that there has been a fundamental shift in baccalaureate curriculum toward incorporation of a greater amount of gerontological content, integration of gerontological content in a greater number of nursing courses, and more diversity of clinical sites used for gerontological clinical experiences. As baccalaureate programs increasingly address the need to enhance gerontological nursing curricula, there continues to be an obligation to address the growing shortage of faculty with qualifications in gerontological nursing.

Section snippets

Overview

The need for a nurse workforce prepared to care for a larger proportion of older and potentially sicker patients poses enormous challenges for the future of hospitals and community and institutional long-term care health options (Buerhaus, 2002, Kovner et al., 2002). Many of the priorities identified in Healthy People 2010: National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives relate directly to illness and chronicity, issues central to the health needs of older adults (Quinn et al., 2004

Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum

Every BSN program completing the survey reported that gerontological content was contained within their respective curricula. The overwhelming majority of BSN programs (92%, n = 514) reported that gerontological content was integrated in one or more courses in the curriculum, a shift in curricular design from the 63% of schools reporting integration of gerontological content in 1997 (Rosenfeld et al., 1999)²

Discussion

Since 1997, there appears to have been a fundamental shift in baccalaureate curriculum toward incorporation of a greater amount of gerontological content, integration of gerontological content in a greater number of nursing courses, and an increase in faculty gerontological expertise to support these gerontological enhancements. Currently, virtually all BSN programs incorporate gerontological nursing, either through integration or through stand-alone courses, an increase from 60% of programs in

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However, lacking educators with the greatest involvement in GN and LTC nursing education training would be an important issue regarding the quality of the geriatric and LTC content in a curriculum.4,12,13 Instructors with experiences in GN or LTC and relevant courses may have an impact on both the effectiveness of the course and the students' motivation.12,14 The faculty development initiative was implemented by baccalaureate school of nursing to address the urgent need for education and development in gerontological nursing.
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Original ArticleGerontological Nursing Content in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: Comparison of Findings From 1997 and 2003

Section snippets

Overview

Baccalaureate Nursing Curriculum

Discussion

Nursing Outlook

Journal of Professional Nursing

Nursing Outlook

Statistics

Older adults: Recommended baccalaureate competencies and curricular guidelines for geriatric nursing care

An analysis of associate degree nursing models

A controlled trial of inpatient and outpatient geriatric evaluation and management

New England Journal of Medicine

Recognize gerontological content

Journal of Gerontological Nursing

National Advisory Council on Nurse Education and Practice: Second report to the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Congress

Original Article
Gerontological Nursing Content in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: Comparison of Findings From 1997 and 2003