A newly developed curriculum that trains bachelor of nursing degree students in geriatric care has been introduced by researchers from the Regenstrief Institute and the Indiana University School of Medicine. The collaboration is part of a mission to refine long-term care and reverse the nursing shortage.
Researchers said the value of the curriculum is twofold: It provides advanced geriatric-focused instruction, which is often overlooked in nurse training, and it could heighten lasting interest in the sector.
“The nursing home population has many special needs requiring nurses with compassion and extra knowledge and skills to provide quality care to older adults,” Regenstrief Institute researcher Debra K. Litzelman, PhD, told McKnights Long-Term Care News Thursday. “Nursing students need experienced [and] knowledgeable faculty/mentors along with actual learning experiences to gain confidence and opportunity to explore potential interest and satisfaction in caring for older adults with complex care needs.”
Students complete 10 hours of multi-modal, online learning where they engage in relevant LTC topics, such as advance care planning, dementia and myths of aging.
Litzelman says this method of training comfortably introduces students to long-term care nuances. She also believes takeaways can be applied to other areas of nursing.
“The curriculum integrates many aspects of geriatric care which can be utilized by future nurses in many other work environments [that are seeing] an increasing number of older adults, [such as] primary care, urgent care, emergency rooms, hospitals, in-home care, or even adult day care centers,” she explained.
What contributing researchers say sets the program apart is the use of standardized patients — virtual, simulated patients who provide students with real time feedback on their experience. The one-on-one interactions occur after students complete their online learning modules.
“The virtual, simulated patients curriculum provides students [the] opportunity to practice addressing concerns common in older adults, including mobility limitations, mentation such as confusion, and safe medication use,” explained Glenda Westmoreland, MD, MPH, associate professor of clinical medicine and director of geriatric education at the Indiana University School of Medicine, in a press release. “Students explore how to ask, ‘What matters most?’ providing them with the skill to confidently ask this essential question when implementing care for patients.”
The technologically advanced training curriculum is effective for engaging learners, but the more important outcome will be providers adopting it in order to train all members of their staff to provide better care and resident experiences. It could be a vital tool as nursing homes move to increase their licensed nursing ranks amid a national shortage.
“The overall goal is to increase knowledge, skill and a compassionate approach in the care of older adults,” Litzelman noted. “When older adults experience better geriatric care, the impact on their outcomes and quality of life can be greatly enhanced. These results are very gratifying to the older adult, their families and their health providers alike.”
