Gerontological nursing in the 21st century

The approaching millennium brings not only a muted but also a challenging vision for the future of gerontological nursing. This vision is muted by the rhetoric of the 90s dictating the elimination of costly programs with the potential to diminish quality. It is a vision of challenge to advocate for, protect, demand, and create a new framework that will guarantee high-quality health care for older patients. In an attempt to clarify that vision, this article outlines three areas of gerontological nursing: education, practice, and research. The future direction in these areas will dictate how collective thinking can support health care for older people in the next century and beyond. These components of nursing must be integrated to develop quality care needed by older patients.