Nursing staff attitudes toward the geriatric nurse practitioner student

This study investigated nursing staff attitudes toward the geriatric nurse practitioner as an agent of change in a long-term care facility, based on two University of Miami GNP students' practicum in a county nursing home. Nursing personnel were surveyed before and after the practicum to measure their acceptance of the GNP. While nursing staff initially held a wait-and-see attitude, posttest ratings were favorable. Recommendations for improving quality of care in the setting were made by student participants, and a six-month follow-up revealed that a number of changes had been implemented.