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The effect of a geriatric education program on emergency nurses
C Brymer1, P Cavanagh, E Denomy
1Division of Geriatric Medicine, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada. cbrymer@julian.uwo.ca
Journal of Emergency Nursing
|February 15, 2001
Summary
A targeted geriatric education workshop improved emergency nurses' practice in screening older adults for depression and altered mental status. This initiative also led to increased referrals for geriatric assessment and home care.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Emergency Nursing Education
Background:
- Emergency nurses identified a need for education on geriatric depression, physical assessment, and mental status testing.
- Previous studies highlighted these as high-priority educational topics for emergency nurses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of a 1-day educational workshop on emergency nurses' practice regarding geriatric care.
- To measure changes in screening practices and referrals for geriatric patients.
Main Methods:
- A 1-day workshop covered physical assessment, delirium/depression/dementia, and mental status testing for the elderly.
- Participant practice patterns were self-rated before and 1 month after the workshop.
- Referrals for geriatric assessment and home care were monitored for 2 years.
Main Results:
- 50.5% of attendees completed post-workshop surveys.
- Significant improvements were reported in screening for depression (P <.0001) and altered mental status (P <.01) in older adults.
- Increased referrals for geriatric assessment and home care were observed.
Conclusions:
- Targeted geriatric education positively impacts emergency nurses' practice.
- Educational programs are most effective within a coordinated approach to geriatric patient care in emergency departments.
- Reinforcement of learning is crucial for long-term success of geriatric education initiatives.