Gerontological nursing

Gerontological nursing
Woman in a residential care home receiving a birthday cake.

Gerontological nursing is the specialty of nursing pertaining to older adults.[1] Gerontological nurses work in collaboration with older adults, their families, and communities to support healthy aging, maximum functioning, and quality of life.[2] The term gerontological nursing, which replaced the term geriatric nursing in the 1970s, is seen as being more consistent with the specialty's broader focus on health and wellness, in addition to illness.[3][4]

Gerontological nursing is important to meet the health needs of an aging population.[3] Due to longer life expectancy and declining fertility rates, the proportion of the population that is considered old is increasing.[5] Between 2000 and 2050, the number of people in the world who are over age 60 is predicted increase from 605 million to 2 billion.[6] The proportion of older adults is already high and continuing to increase in more developed countries. In 2010, seniors (aged 65 and older) made up 13% and 23% of the populations of the US and Japan, respectively. By 2050, these proportions will increase to 21% and 36%.[7][8]

Scope

Geriatric nurses are expected to be skilled in patient care, treatment planning, education, mental health, and rehabilitation.[9] They also take on many roles in the workplace. The main responsibility is as a caregiver. They can also be advocates, counselors, and educators for their patients.[10]

Gerontological nursing draws on knowledge about complex factors that affect the health of older adults.[11][12] Older adults are more likely than younger adults to have one or more chronic health conditions, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, arthritis, hearing impairment, or a form of dementia such as Alzheimer's disease.[4] As well, drug metabolism changes with aging, adding to the complexity of health needs.[12]

Gerontological nurses work in a variety of settings, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation, nursing homes (also known as long term care homes and skilled nursing facilities), assisted living facilities, retirement homes, community health agencies, and the patient's home.[3] The conditions of the geriatric patient's health determines what type of facility one should reside in. Assisted living facilities are also known as senior retirement homes, and they provide care services depending on health conditions. Skilled nursing, otherwise known as a nursing home, is a place where they can reside and get provided with 24/7 cares. Older adults have been referred to as "the core business of healthcare" by gerontological nursing experts.[13][14] Population aging and the complexity of health care needs of some older adults means that older adults are more likely than younger people to use health care services.[11] In many settings, the majority of patients are older adults. Thus, experts recommend that all nurses, not only those identified as gerontological nurses, need specialized knowledge about older adults. This position was endorsed by 55 US nursing specialty organizations.[15]

Including, GAPNA (formerly NCGNP) which was founded in 1981, by a group of Gerontological Nurse Practitioners with the intention of offering the first continuing education conferences designed specifically to meet the needs of advanced practice nurses providing care for older adults. Currently, GAPNA represents the interests of all advanced practice nurses who work with older adults. These advance practice nurses are active in a variety of settings across the continuum including primary, acute, post-acute and long-term care. GAPNA an organization for advanced practice nurses seeking continuing education in gerontological care as well as networking and peer support from experienced clinicians.[16]

What Attracts Nurses to Gerontological Care

The last few decades have brought in more interest in older people as their numbers in society grow.[17] More people than ever before are surviving to their senior years which substantially makes the demand for more working nurses in gerontology. Viewing aging as a natural process also develops more positive attitudes towards working with older adults.

Gerontology vs Geriatrics

Gerontology is often used anonymously with geriatrics but there are differences between the two. Geriatrics is the specific medical branch of illnesses that affect the aging. Gerontology is the study of factors that affect aging and the effects of aging on a person.[4] Gerontological Nurses need to know about both how to care for illnesses that affect the aging, what other factors affect aging, and how they impact people.

History

Although nurses published articles about care of older adults as early as 1904, the specialty of gerontological nursing emerged beginning in the 1950s, with the publication of the first gerontological nursing textbook.[4][18] Pioneers in the field of gerontological nursing include Vera McIver,[19] Doris Schwartz,[20] Mary Opal Walanin.[21][22]

Elderly woman

A geriatric nursing specialty group was formed by the American Nurses Association in 1966, with the name changed to the Gerontological Nursing Division in 1976.[4] In the US, the National Gerontological Nursing Association was founded in 1984 and in 1985 the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association was founded.[4][23] Standards of practice for gerontological nursing were published by the American Nurses Association in 1971.[12] In the US, certification for geriatric nurse practitioners and clinical specialists were available in 1984.[3]

The specialty has advanced significantly since the 1990s through large scale education and practice development initiatives funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation, including the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University. Significant efforts to enhance nursing education have been made in the last decade.[4] In 2010, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing published the Recommended Baccalaureate Competences and Curricular Guidelines for the Nursing Care of Older Adults.[24] Between 2007 and 2009 the Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium created teaching tools and trained educators in the US to improve gerontological content in nursing education.[25]

Training and education

Gerontological nursing includes generalist and specialist practice. A generalist is a registered nurse or Licensed Practical Nurse. A gerontological nurse specialist is an advanced practice nurse or nurse practitioner who has graduate education in gerontological nursing.

Specific education in gerontological care is important for all nurses, even those who work outside of long-term care, because older adults make up a significant portion of patients across specialties.[26] However, additional certification in Gerontological care is uncommon for registered nurses, with less than 1% being certified. Fewer than 3% of advance practice nurses in the United States have this certification.[27]

Registered nurses have the option of becoming certified in gerontological nursing. National nursing organizations such as the American Nurses Credentialing Center and the Canadian Nurses Association offer certification in gerontological nursing. Requirements for maintaining certification vary. The American Nurses Credentialing Center lists requirements as including 2 years experience as an RN, 2,000 hours of clinical experience and 30 hours of continuing education, both within the specialty of gerontological nursing.[28] Post graduate certificates in gerontological nursing are also available by completing continuing education courses through colleges and universities.[29][30][31]

Most often times, gerontological nursing is often ignored within baccalaureate educational programs, with only 1/3rd of all schools requiring a specific course in geriatrics.[27] This is due to educational programs focusing more attention on the sick rather than the well, who are more representative of the older population.[4] 1/4th of all nursing programs in the United States do not have a gerontological staff member.[32]

To better identify those who are most qualified and experienced in managing patient care, there is an APRN Specialty Certification in Gerontology. This APRN Gerontological Specialist Certification (GS-c) distinguishes APRNs who possess expert knowledge, experience, and skill in managing the complex health needs of older adults.[33]

Issues in Gerontological Nursing

The nursing shortage continues to affect all aspects of nursing, and gerontological nursing is no exception. It is estimated that 50-150% more nurses will be needed in this speciality in the next decade.[34] Often times nursing students do not express a desire to work in gerontological nursing as their specialty. This can be due to negative stereotypes, misconceptions, and attitudes toward the aging that are common among nursing students. Gerontological nursing can be unpopular because geriatric nurses are sometimes perceived to be somewhat inferior in capabilities, or not good enough for other specialties. Facilities have also discouraged competent nurses from working in these settings by paying low salaries.[4]

Geriatric care facilities face a problem of staff retention of both professional workers (including registered nurses) and paraprofessionals (including nursing assistants).[35] The American Healthcare Association found a turnover rate of 65% for registered nurses working in nursing homes.[34]

Burnout among nurses in geriatric care is common. Physical stressors, such as frequent heavy lifting, and emotional stressors, such as regularly encountering death, all contribute.

References

  1. Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association. "CNGA 2014 Bylaw". Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  2. Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association. "Gerontological Nursing Competencies and Standards of Practice 2010" (PDF). Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association. CGNA. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Touhy, Theris A.; Jett, Kathleen F. (2014). Ebersole and Hess' gerontological nursing & healthy aging (4th ed.). St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier/Mosby. ISBN 978-0-323-09606-5.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Eliopoulos, Charlotte (2014). Gerontological nursing (8th ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-1-4511-7277-5.
  5. World Health Organization (WHO). "Ageing". Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  6. World Health Organization (WHO). "Interesting facts about aging". Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  7. Pew Research. "Attitudes about aging: A global perspective". Pew Research. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  8. Vincent, Grayson K.; Velkoff, Victoria A. "THE NEXT FOUR DECADES The Older Population in the United States: 2010 to 2050" (PDF). U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 7 July 2014.
  9. "Everything You Need to Know About Becoming a Geriatric Nurse". www.rasmussen.edu. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  10. Eliopoulos, Charlotte (1987). A Guide to the Nursing of the Aging. 428 East Preston Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 U.S.A: Williams & Wilkins. pp. 3–6.
  11. 1 2 3 Miller, Carol A. (2012). Nursing for wellness in older adults (Sixth ed.). Philadelphia: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. ISBN 978-1-60547-777-0.
  12. The John A. Hartford Foundation (2012). "Celebrating thirty years of aging and health: 2010 annual report" (PDF). The John A. Hartford Foundation. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  13. "John A. Hartford Foundation 2006 Annual Report" (PDF). John A. Hartford Foundation. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  14. "Specialty nursing association global vision statement on care of older adults" (PDF). ConsultGeriRN.org. Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing. May 2, 2011. Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  15. "Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)". www.gapna.org. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  16. Eliopoulos, Charlotte (2005). Gerontological Nursing. 428 East Preston Street Baltimore, Maryland 21202 US.A: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. pp. 4–77.
  17. Newton Shafer, Kathleen (1950). Geriatric Nursing. St. Louis: Mosby.
  18. Mantle, Jessie; Funke-Furber, Jeanette; McIvor, Vera (2003). The forgotten revolution: the Priory Method : a restorative care model for older persons. Victoria, B.C.: Trafford. ISBN 978-1-55395-749-2.
  19. Ebersole, Priscilla (1997). "Doris Schwartz: A living legend". Geriatric Nursing. 18 (6): 277–279. doi:10.1016/S0197-4572(97)90363-3.
  20. Thames, Dianne (1997). "Mary Opal Wolanin: A life worth living ... A life of giving, part 2". Geriatric Nursing. 18 (6): 275–276. doi:10.1016/S0197-4572(97)90362-1.
  21. Thames, Dianne (1997). "Mary Opal Wolanin: A life worth living ... a life of giving". Geriatric Nursing. 18 (5): 229–231. doi:10.1016/S0197-4572(97)90098-7.
  22. "Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association". Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  23. "Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium". American Association of Colleges of Nursing. Retrieved 11 July 2014.
  24. Berman, Amy; Mezey, Mathy; Kobayashi, Mia; Fulmer, Terry; Stanley, Joan; Thornlow, Deirdre; Rosenfeld, Peri (2005-09-01). "Gerontological Nursing Content in Baccalaureate Nursing Programs: Comparison of Findings From 1997 and 2003". Journal of Professional Nursing. 21 (5): 268–275. doi:10.1016/j.profnurs.2005.07.005. ISSN 8755-7223.
  25. 1 2 "United States in Search of Nurses with Geriatrics Training". RWJF. 2012-02-27. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  26. "Gerontological Nursing". www.nursecredentialing.org. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  27. MacEwan University. "Post-basic nursing practice". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  28. Conestoga College. "Enhance nursing practice - gerontology and chronic illness (graduate certificate)". Retrieved 8 July 2014.
  29. "Gerontology Certificate". University of Utah College of Nursing. Retrieved 9 July 2014.
  30. "Your Bright Future in Gerontological Nursing" (PDF). allhealthcaredegrees.com. 2005-01-01.
  31. "Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses Association (GAPNA)". www.gapna.org. Retrieved 2017-11-24.
  32. 1 2 Fisher Robertson, Julie. "What attracts and keeps nurses in long-term care?". Geriatric Nursing. 11 (6): 284–286. doi:10.1016/S0197-4572(05)80295-2. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
  33. Miller, E. A.; Booth, M.; Mor, V. (2008). "Assessing Experts' Views of the Future of Long-Term Care". Research on Aging. 30 (4): 450–473. doi:10.1177/0164027508316607.
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