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Published on: February 2, 2020
Instrument Evaluation: Attitudes Toward Older Adults and Intent to Work in Geriatrics
Samantha R Denison1, Catherine R Van Son, Janessa Graves
1About the Authors Samantha R. Denison, BSN, RN, was a student at the College of Nursing, Washington State University Spokane, Spokane, Washington, when this research was conducted. Catherine R. Van Son, PhD, RN, ANEF, FGSA, FAAN, is a professor, College of Nursing, Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington. Janessa Graves, PhD, MPH, is an associate professor, Honors College Fellow, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington. The authors are grateful to Sue McFadden, MSN, RN, ARNP, for her support in conducting this study. For more information, contact Dr. Van Son at vansonc@wsu.edu.
Abstract:
Despite the increasing demand for nurses in geriatrics, interest lags in working with older adults. The Carolina Opinions on the Care of Older Adults instrument assesses attitudes toward older adults, with one subscale assessing intention to work with older adults. The instrument was used in a pretest/posttest study with prelicensure students enrolled in a gerontological nursing course. Posttest scores showed an improvement in attitudes toward older adults. The geriatric career choice subscale showed no pretest/posttest changes. The Carolina Opinions on the Care of Older Adults instrument is a suitable measure to assess changes in attitudes and intention to work with older adults.
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