Are we prepared ?

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Todays Learning Objectives

1. Understand who might be future healthcare consumer 2. Distinguish between the normal adult client/patient and the geriatric client/patient 3. Recognize the need for increasing geriatric education for nurses and other healthcare workers

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Geriatrics and Nursing

In 2000 approximately 35 million Americans were over 65 In 2030, with the retirement of most of the baby boomers, the government estimates that number to grow to 70 million Currently some estimates see 40% of acute care hospital admissions are over 65

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Our Future
Current estimates of 77 million baby boomers in the workplace In February 2009 USA Today projects a nursing shortage of 500,000 by 2025 Who will care for the expected 70 million clients over 65 in 2025?

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Shortages?
Texas Department of Health and Human Services Survey in April 2008 Found significant shortages in nurse staffing (40% of all Texas long term care facilities participating) Staffing Ratios RNs 3.3% LVNs 24.5 % CNAs 72.2%

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Adult clients vs. Geriatric clients: Is there a difference?

Geriatric clients have a myriad of issues that the normal adult may not face
Variable reaction to medications and/or anesthesia Decreased support system Co-morbidities Increased trend of delirium dx while hospitalized Increased chance of falls Increased potential for skin integrity issues

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Benefits of increased geriatric nursing education

2001 study by the Journal of Emergency Room Nurses showed increased and improved screening for depression Benefit to the entire nursing profession as well as to client/patient care Nurse certification has been linked to better patient outcomes, according to the American Association of CriticalCare Nurses (AACN),[2] which found that certification is tied to a reduction in medical errors, among other benefits.
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Geriatric Nursing
ANA position on geriatric nursing Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA) is an initiative to improve the quality of health care older adults receive by enhancing the geriatric competence the knowledge, skills and attitudes of the 400,000 nurses who are professionally identified as members of approximately 57 specialty nursing associations.

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ANA Commitment
Enhancing Geriatric Activities of National Specialty Nursing Associations Promoting Gerontological Nursing Certification
to encourage specialty nurses to obtain dual certification and validate their geriatric competence along with their specialty expertise

Providing a Web-based Comprehensive Geriatric Nursing Resource Center

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Geriatric Education in Nursing School

Most programs have a limited number of credits allowed by their accrediting body (NLN or ANCC) Students and programs have a limited time to get the required course work completed. In todays economy, most students are hard pressed to take electives not necessary for graduation.

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Geronurse
http://www.geronurseonline.org/ Official ANA website designed to provide nurses with resources related to the geriatric client. Provides a plethora of resource data to enhance the care of the geriatric client

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Hartford Institute of Geriatric Nursing

Goal is to improve the quality of nursing care to elderly clients through the development of geriatric nursing competencies Offer resources as well as eductional opportunities to all nurses

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Citations

Bogle, M. J. (2009, January 1). AllBusiness Company. Retrieved February 1 2010, from Preparing for the Baby Boomers:Healthcare: http://www.allbusiness.com/population-demographics/de

Parker, R. (2009, August 18). The Future of Geriatrics. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from The Future of Aging: http://futureofaging.aahsa.org/2009/08/18/the-futureDPHS. (2008, December 11). Texas Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from Texas Center for Nursing Workforce Studies: http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/chs/cnws/2008_LTC_hi ghlights.pdf
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Citations

Brymer, C. C., Denomy, E., Well, K., & Cook, C. (2001, February). Journal of Emergency Room Nurses. Retrieved February 5, 2010, from Science Direct: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6W American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. Safeguarding the patient and the profession: the value of critical care nurse certification. 2002. Available from http://www.aacn.org/AACN/mrkt.nsf/Files/CertWhitePaper/ $file/CertWhitePaper.pdf. Retrieved February 5,2010.

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