Integrating gerontology competencies into graduate nursing programs.

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Nursing
• Advanced Practice Nursing Education

Background:

• Demographic shifts and healthcare utilization trends indicate a growing need for nurses specializing in older adult care.
• Advanced practice nurses (APNs) are crucial for leadership in geriatric nursing but require specialized education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe curricular innovations in graduate nursing programs aimed at enhancing geriatric nursing education for APNs.
• To detail strategies for integrating geriatric competencies and sustaining educational advancements.

Main Methods:

• The Geriatric Nursing Education Project funded curriculum development at two universities: University of North Carolina at Greensboro and Pennsylvania State University.
• Incorporated the American Association of Colleges of Nursing's (AACN) competencies for older adult care into advanced practice curricula.
• Developed strategies for the sustainability of these curricular innovations.

Main Results:

• Successfully translated APN competencies for older adult care into graduate nursing curricula.
• Established methods for sustaining these geriatric nursing educational innovations.
• Identified key lessons learned from the implementation process.

Conclusions:

• Integrating geriatric nursing competencies into graduate programs is essential for preparing APNs to meet the needs of an aging population.
• The described curricular innovations provide a model for other institutions seeking to enhance geriatric nursing education.
• Recommendations are offered for broader integration of geriatric nursing into advanced practice nursing programs.