The University of San Francisco USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects Spring 5-19-2016 Integrating Improved Geriatric Content Into a Nursing Curriculum: Enhancing the Competencies of Nursing Students in Gerontological Care Sylvia Andrade [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.usfca.edu/dnp Part of the Nursing Commons Recommended Citation Andrade, Sylvia, "Integrating Improved Geriatric Content Into a Nursing Curriculum: Enhancing the Competencies of Nursing Students in Gerontological Care" (2016). Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects. 118. https://repository.usfca.edu/dnp/118 This Project is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, Capstones and Projects at USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. It has been accepted for inclusion in Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Projects by an authorized administrator of USF Scholarship: a digital repository @ Gleeson Library | Geschke Center. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 1 Integrating Improved Geriatric Content Into a Nursing Curriculum: Enhancing the Competencies of Nursing Students in Gerontological Care Sylvia Andrade, DNP (c), MS, RN University of San Francisco Mary Bittner, DNP, PHA, CNE, RN Committee Chair Wanda J. Borges, PhD, RN, ANP-BC Committee Member Helen J. Nguyen, DNP, RN, ANP-BC Committee Member INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 2 Abstract The United States is facing a critical shortage of health care professionals who are trained in geriatrics. Among the health care professions, nursing, with more than 3 million members, comprises the largest segment of the nation’s health care workforce. New nurses entering this workforce find themselves caring for an extraordinarily large number of older patients with complex health care needs, regardless of the care setting. Currently, 36 million Americans are aged 65 or older. By 2030, that number will double. Accordingly, the need is significantly greater for more gerontologically trained registered nurses to address the complex health care needs of the older population. Current content in nursing school curricula on the care of older adults is neither sufficient nor fully incorporated into the didactic and clinical education of nursing students. Nursing education must change to meet the health care demands of the aging population and the complexities of the current health care environment. Key words: Older population, geriatrics, competency, nurses, faculty, curriculum. INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 3 Acknowledgments I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Mary Bittner, my Committee Chair person, whose earnest and emphatic attitude, extensive knowledge, and expertise continually guide me to reach my highest potentials. Without her guidance and continuous encouragement my DNP completion would not have been possible. I would like to thank my committee members: Dr. Wanda J. Borges and Dr. Helen J. Nguyen, who both serve as my role models and mentors. Their passion for the nursing profession and academia inspired me even more to keep on teaching in the School of Nursing. In addition, a thank you to Dr. Enna E. Trevathan who introduced me to the world of program and curriculum developments and whose enthusiasm for learning and education had lasting effect. I thank the USF community for my doctoral education. It was a privilege to learn from each one of you. I am extending a special gratitude to Laguna Honda Hospital and Rehabilitation Center staff under the leadership of Mivic Hirose, CEO. Your profound service to patients and support to our nursing students are greatly appreciated. And last but not the least, I thank my family—my daughter Christine Anne and my son Robert Kevin—for being the source of inspiration and everlasting joy always, and my husband who continues to believe in me. I am profoundly grateful for all your love and support. INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 4 Table of Contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgments............................................................................................................................3 List of Figures ..................................................................................................................................8 Background ......................................................................................................................................9 Significance of the Problem .................................................................................................9 A Local Problem ................................................................................................................11 Intended Improvement .......................................................................................................13 Review of the Evidence .....................................................................................................13 History and Significant Landmarks in Gerontological Nursing ........................................14 The Development of Geriatric Competencies ....................................................................16 Models for Integrating Geriatric Competencies Into Nursing Curricula ...........................17 Practicing Nurses in Geriatric Settings ..............................................................................19 Conceptual Framework ..................................................................................................................20 Methods..........................................................................................................................................21 Ethical Issues .....................................................................................................................21 Setting ................................................................................................................................23 INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 5 Planning the Intervention ...................................................................................................25 Implementation of the Project ............................................................................................28 Planning the Study of the Intervention ..............................................................................31 Cost Summary ....................................................................................................................31 Methods of Evaluation .......................................................................................................32 Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) Analysis ............................35 Analysis..............................................................................................................................37 Results: Program Evaluation/Outcomes ........................................................................................38 Discussion ......................................................................................................................................39 Summary ............................................................................................................................39 Relation to Other Evidence ................................................................................................40 Barriers to Implementation/Limitations .............................................................................41 Interpretation ......................................................................................................................42 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................43 Implications for Practice ....................................................................................................44 Funding ..............................................................................................................................46 References ......................................................................................................................................47 INTEGRATING GERIATRIC CONTENT INTO A CURRICULUM 6 Appendix A: Significant Gerontological Landmarks ....................................................................51 Appendix B: Gerontological Nursing Competency Statements and Essentials .............................59 Appendix C: The Nine Essentials of Baccalaureate Education for Professional Nursing Practice ...............................................................................................................................63 Appendix D: Selected Gerontological Competency Statements and Essentials ............................64 Appendix E: Curriculum Mapping ................................................................................................66 Appendix F: USF Nursing 661 ......................................................................................................69 Appendix G: Weekly Geriatric Class Schedule .............................................................................71 Appendix H: Facts on Aging Quiz.................................................................................................72