Emergency Nurses' Perception of Geriatric Readiness in the ED Setting: A Mixed-Methods Study

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Emergency Care
• Nursing Research
• Public Health

Background:

• The aging US population is increasing, with over 21 million individuals aged 65+ visiting emergency departments (EDs) annually.
• This demographic is projected to more than double in the next 40 years, highlighting the growing need for specialized geriatric care.
• Emergency nurses are pivotal in developing and delivering effective care for geriatric patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate emergency nurses' perceptions of their competence in managing geriatric patients within the emergency setting.
• To identify challenges and facilitators influencing the quality of emergency care for older adults.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods sequential design was employed, integrating quantitative survey data (N=1,610) with qualitative focus group data (N=23).
• Quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed separately, with equal weight given during the interpretation phase.

Main Results:

• Less than half of surveyed nurses reported consistent availability of geriatric-specific screenings, accommodations, and external communication.
• Qualitative findings revealed key themes: Triage/Assessment, Emergency Environment Care, Discharge Planning, and Facilitators/Barriers.
• A primary concern identified was ensuring patient safety within the ED and community settings.

Conclusions:

• Emergency departments require integrated systems to optimize care for older patients.
• Barriers to improved geriatric care include fragmented emergency-community care integration, insufficient geriatric education, inconsistent frailty screening, and resource limitations.