The Decker School of Nursing received a $25,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to give all bachelor’s-level students an increased exposure to geriatric nursing.

Information about caring for older patients will be added to all course content this fall. Issues such as chronic illnesses in geriatric patients, the effects of the environment, as well as case studies involving elderly patients, will complement existing course content. For seniors who intend to professionally pursue geriatric nursing careers in long-term care facilities, the grant will provide a clinical rotation in a long term-care facility and a geriatric nursing seminar.

“As the nation heads into the twenty-first century, we are facing a rapidly aging population whose needs and issues are going to have a profound impact on the health care system,” said Joyce Ferrario, associate dean of the Decker School.

“We need to prepare our students to be able to deal more effectively with some of the challenges that are specific to geriatric patients. With the added focus afforded by the grant, we’ll be able to strengthen our geriatric nursing content, resulting in improved professional practice with older persons at all settings.”

Historically, the complex nature of caring for the elderly has made recruitment and retention of registered professional nurses difficult, particularly in long-term care settings. Ferrario hopes that by providing students with the enhanced skills and knowledge required to care for older patients, they may see the long- term care setting as a viable option after graduation.

To prepare for the new program, an advisory committee of Decker faculty and long-term care facility staff has been formed. The committee is reviewing course content and plans to evaluate students’ clinical practice experience with respect to geriatric issues.