Developing a comprehensive curriculum program for nurse practitioners delivering primary care in the long-term care...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Medicine
• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Administration

Background:

• Long-Term Care (LTC) residents have complex health needs requiring specialized primary care.
• Nurse Practitioners (NPs) are key providers of primary care in LTC settings.
• Existing NP training may not fully address the unique challenges of LTC.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and implement a certificate program for NPs entering LTC.
• To enhance NP knowledge, capacity, and confidence in delivering primary care to LTC residents.
• To improve the quality, evidence-based practice, and integration of care in LTC.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum development focused on LTC-specific primary care competencies.
• Educational program designed to meet the learning needs of NPs in the LTC workplace.
• Focus on integrated and interprofessional primary care delivery models.

Main Results:

• The program aims to increase NP competency in managing LTC resident needs.
• Anticipated increase in knowledge, capacity, and confidence among participating NPs.
• Expected improvement in the delivery of high-quality primary care services.

Conclusions:

• A specialized certificate program is crucial for preparing NPs for LTC.
• Enhanced NP training can address the growing demand for LTC services.
• The program is expected to elevate the standard of primary care for LTC populations.