Describing gerontological nursing: an academic exercise or prerequisite for progress?

Area of Science:

• Gerontological Nursing
• Nursing Practice
• Healthcare Quality

Background:

• Aging population necessitates increased expertise in gerontological nursing.
• A clear, accepted definition of gerontological nursing's rationale, philosophy, knowledge, and skills is currently lacking.
• The importance of specialized nursing care for older adults is growing.

Purpose of the Study:

• To create a practitioner-led description of gerontological nursing.
• To identify and articulate the core principles of gerontological nursing practice.
• To develop a framework for improving care for older adults.

Main Methods:

• Action research within a Community of Practice involving 30 Scottish nurses.
• Data collection through group interviews and online discussion records.
• Content analysis of data, with verification via external consultation with nurses and older adults.

Main Results:

• Gerontological nursing in Scotland was perceived as low-status, requiring a positive reframing.
• A person-centred, enabling, and evidence-based description and principles for gerontological nursing were developed.
• The developed framework was utilized to shape best practice statements for aged care.

Conclusions:

• An accessible consensus view and description are crucial for advancing gerontological nursing practice.
• Practising nurses successfully developed a consensus description with demonstrated utility in creating best practice statements.
• The gerontological nursing description and principles can guide clinical practice, practice development, and research in aged care.