Is gerontological nursing included in baccalaureate nursing programs?

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Gerontological Nursing
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Baccalaureate nursing programs are increasingly incorporating gerontological nursing content.
• Continuous evaluation of this content is necessary to ensure its adequacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the current state of gerontological nursing education within baccalaureate nursing programs.
• To determine if existing content, faculty preparation, and clinical settings provide adequate educational background.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the four stages of the Curriculum Process Model (directive, formative, functional, evaluative) for a systematic approach.
• Evaluated the nature and extent of gerontological nursing content, faculty preparation, and clinical experiences.

Main Results:

• While progress has been made in gerontological nursing content, faculty preparation, and clinical settings, significant gaps remain.
• The current educational background provided to students is not yet sufficient.

Conclusions:

• The integration of gerontological nursing into baccalaureate programs requires further development and refinement.
• Ongoing systematic evaluation using models like the Curriculum Process Model is crucial for enhancing gerontological nursing education.