Gerontological nursing. Faculty preparation for teaching

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Gerontology

Background:

• The US population is aging, increasing the demand for specialized geriatric care.
• There is a critical need for nurse educators to be proficient in gerontological nursing.
• Faculty development is essential to meet this educational demand.

Purpose of the Study:

• To address the need for faculty development in gerontological nursing.
• To provide essential gerontological nursing knowledge to regional nursing faculty.
• To enhance the capacity of nursing programs to educate future nurses in geriatric care.

Main Methods:

• A 3-year project focused on faculty development in gerontological nursing.
• Workshops included didactic content and clinical observation experiences.
• Workshops were offered as intensive 1-week sessions.

Main Results:

• All offered workshops in 1990 were filled to capacity.
• Participants demonstrated a wide range of existing knowledge in gerontology.
• The demand for gerontological nursing education among faculty is high.

Conclusions:

• Faculty development programs are crucial for advancing gerontological nursing education.
• Addressing the varied knowledge base of participants is key for effective training.
• Meeting the demand for gerontological nursing faculty training is a priority.