HGNI New Directions

Welcome to New Directions, a publication of the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI). This e-newsletter is designed to inform interested academic and practice leaders, faculty members, students, practitioners and others about the work of the HGNI and provide the latest news and information relevant to geriatric nursing.

As many of you know, the HGNI is preparing professional nurses to play leadership roles in improving the health of older adults. In partnership with the nation's nursing schools and a variety of health care organizations and systems, this dynamic, national initiative, supported through a $38 million investment from The John A. Hartford Foundation, works in five areas, including:

Shaping nursing practice to best meet the health care needs of older adults;

Enhancing professional education to ensure all nurses are prepared to treat older patients;

Promoting research needed to guide the care and promote the health of older people;

Developing leadership in academic and professional settings; and

Demonstrating nursing's commitment to enacting public policy that improves older Americans' health care.

We are proud to represent this critically needed effort, which is involving the nation's top nurses-including you-in making a difference in the health care of our nation's older adults. If you would like more contact information about, and links to all of the programs of the HGNI, please visit the HGNI's Web site at www.HGNI.org.

In this Issue

1. State of Aging and Health in America Report
2. Announcements
3. Tools, Resources and Opportunities
4. Link of the Month: TechForLTC.Org

Everyone at the HGNI wishes you and yours a very happy holiday season and a wonderful New Year!

1. State of Aging and Health in America Report

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Merck Institute of Aging & Health (MIAH) jointly released the third annual State of Aging and Health in America Report, which focuses on promoting healthy behaviors among Americans 65 and older. These behaviors include eating a healthy diet, controlling weight and, most important, physical activity. The CDC/MIAH report also ranks health status, health behaviors and the use of preventive services among older Americans at both the national and state levels. Under the most recent state "report card," which shows whether individual states are meeting federal targets for various health indicators, no state met all the federal targets. Visit http://www.miahonline.org to download the complete report.

2. Announcements

Teaching Nursing Home Project
Dr. Mathy Mezey of The New York University (NYU) Division of Nursing has received an 18-month contract from the Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA) to re-think the value and feasibility of teaching nursing homes (TNHs). Dr. Elizabeth Capezuti, also at NYU, is the Co-Principal Investigator. Specifically, the project will convene a Summit of Experts in gerontologic nursing and social work practice and education to analyze the issues surrounding health professional workforce preparation in long-term care; identification, refinement and prioritizing initiatives for a TNH project; and identification of potential partner organizations for a TNH project. Following the Summit, the project will test and implement one or two TNH initiatives. A "call" for extant TNHs has gone out via national symposia and association/organization listservs in order to learn about prevailing models, goals and processes of nursing home and academic partnerships. Please respond if you are, or know of, a TNH to help ensure NYU can develop a comprehensive sense of the field. Please provide the name of the participating school and/or home and contact information by responding to Ethel Mitty, EdD, RN, TNH Project Director at ethel.mitty@nyu.edu, or 212.998.5331.

2004 HGNI Leadership Conference Recap
The 4th Annual HGNI Leadership Conference drew 200 attendees to Washington, DC, November 17-19, 2004. The conference was planned to take particular advantage of the expertise available in Washington, DC, the center of research funding and policy making in the U.S. To view the complete, on-site program and presentations, go to www.geriatricnursing.org and select "Leadership" on the left hand toolbar.

AACN Adopts a New Vision for the Future of Nursing Education and Practice
In a historic move to help shape the future of nursing education and practice, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) has adopted a new position that recognizes the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree as the highest level of preparation for clinical practice. At its fall Semi-annual Meeting held October 25, 2004, AACN member institutions voted to move the current level of preparation necessary for advanced nursing practice roles from the master's degree to the doctorate level by the year 2015.

AACN's Position Statement on the Practice Doctorate in Nursing may be downloaded at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/pdf/DNP.pdf. To further clarify its position and address constituent concerns, AACN has developed a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) sheet to explain the move toward the practice doctorate. This may be accessed online at http://www.aacn.nche.edu/DNP/DNPfaq.htm. Please direct any questions, concerns or comments related to this AACN action to jstanley@aacn.nche.edu.

HGNI in the News
The work of Patty Coleman, PhD, RN, APRN, BC, a Hartford post-doc scholar, was recently highlighted by the New York State Nursing Association in the evidence-based practice section of its newsletter, Report. The article describes Dr. Coleman's work and the importance of oral health and its implications for older adults. To read the article, go to: http://www.nysna.org/departments/communications/publications/report/2004/oct-nov/research.htm.

3. Tools, Resources and Opportunities

NIA/JAHF/AAN Partnership Offers Exciting New Program-Summer Institute on Aging Research: Pre-Conference Workshop for Nurses

Clinical Research: Trials and Interventions, July 7- 8, 2005
Aspen Wye River Conference Center, Queenstown, Maryland

This pre-conference workshop, sponsored by The John A. Hartford Foundation, American Academy of Nursing and the National Institute on Aging, is a collaborative effort to enhance new nurse researchers' capacity to design and conduct clinical research in aging with human participants. Nurse applicants must meet the specified eligibility criteria for the Summer Institute on Aging Research. Selected applicants are required to attend and participate in the pre-conference and Summer Institute (nine days). The pre-conference workshop will address problems of the RCT, daring designs, assessment of relative risk, duty to exclude, randomization, therapeutic misconception and a mock IRB review.

Nurses registering for the pre-conference workshop must use the Summer Institute on Aging Research official application form. Check the box at the top of the application to be considered. Applications are due March 4, 2005.

Applications are available on the Web at www.geriatricnursing.org or by contacting Patty Franklin at pfranklin@aannet.org.

'Tis the Season to Be.Branding!
Like the look of the HGNI logo and this newsletter? You can use the graphic identity developed for the HGNI on your print materials, Web sites, posters, and PowerPoint presentations. Go to www.geriatricnursing.org/graphics to see the design guidelines for using the brand, as well as several versions of the logo and a variety of helpful templates.

In the "brand" New Year, why not try the PowerPoint slide template and adapt it for your next presentation? Using these graphics can freshen up your slides, and importantly, it links you to the large and growing number of leaders who are part of the HGNI's important work on behalf of older adults.

BAGNC Pre and Postdoctoral Scholar Awards - Applications Due January 15, 2005
Applications for the BAGNC Pre and Postdoctoral Scholar Awards are due January 15, 2005. Visit the BAGNC website at www.geriatricnursing.org for an application, or call Yolanda Johnson at 202.842.1275, extension 142.

Specialty Nursing Association Grant Opportunities - Applications Due January 17, 2005
Applications are now being accepted from specialty nursing associations to develop geriatric initiatives and enhance members' knowledge and competence in aging. The Nurse Competence in Aging initiative sent invitations to more than 35 specialty nursing associations. Funded associations will join the 26 specialty nursing associations that are already grant-funded. Don't let your specialty association be left out - encourage your association's leadership to apply! If you belong to a specialty association and want more information, go to: http://www.geronurseonline.org/index.cfm?section_id=10.

2005 Geriatric Nursing Research Scholars Program - Applications due March 15, 2005
The Hartford Institute - American Journal of Nursing Geriatric Nursing Research Scholars Program will be held July 11 - July 15, 2005 at New York University. Scholars will be selected for a week-long, in-depth mentoring experience with nationally recognized gerontologic nursing researchers. For complete information and to download an application, go to: http://www.hartfordign.org/research/scholarsFellows/index.html.

Gerontological Certification Exam - Last Chance for Special Rates!
The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) is offering special rates for nurses who sign up for the generalist gerontological nursing certification exams by December 31, 2004. The exam is now in a computer-based test format, but nurses who sign up by December 31, 2004, qualify for paper and pencil rates (a savings of $50!). For more information about gerontological nursing certification, please visit: www.GeroNurseOnline.org.To access the ANCC gerontological nursing exam brochure and application, go to: http://www.nursingworld.org/ancc/certification/cert/exams/GeroExamBrochure.pdf.

"Try This" Series
Horowitz's Impact of Event Scale: An Assessment of Post-Traumatic Stress in Older Adults

This latest issue in the Try This Assessment Series offers an assessment tool for older adults to identify post-traumatic stress. To view Horowitz's Impact of Event Scale, go to: http://www.hartfordign.org/publications/trythis/issue_19.pdf. For a comprehensive listing of Try This Assessment Series and Try This Dementia Series issues, go to: http://www.hartfordign.org/resources/education/tryThis.html.

Geriatric Education Nursing Project: Showcasing Curriculum Grant Innovations
Funding from The John A. Hartford Foundation/American Association of Colleges of Nursing Enhancing Geriatric Nursing Education for Baccalaureate and Advanced Practice Nursing Programs supports gerontology curriculum development and new clinical experiences in 20 baccalaureate and 10 graduate schools of nursing. Several of these grant recipients have created highly impressive and innovative courses, now showcased on the AACN Web site. Nursing faculty and administrators are encouraged to visit the site, learn more about the work of the grantees, and use the articles as a resource to help replicate, develop, and/or expand upon the awardees' fine work. To learn more about these efforts, visit: http://www.aacn.nche.edu/Education/Hartford/ShowcasingInnovation.htm.

Now Available for Family Gerontologists:
Families in Mid and Later Life Syllabi and Instructional Materials
Edited by M. Elise Radina, PhD

Instructional Resources for Family Gerontologists

Syllabi (14 syllabi from courses taught in various departments/disciplines)

Lesson Plans (two teaching approaches)

Assignments (11 assignment examples to assist student learning)

Book/Media Resources (extensive list of instructional resources)

Cost: $25.00 (includes shipping)
Payment method: Cash or check only
Checks made payable to: NCFR Family & Health Section (Issues & Aging Focus Group)

To order, please contact:
Dr. M. Elise Radina
229 Latham Hall
University of Northern Iowa
Cedar Falls, IA 50614
Ph: (319) 273-2401
E-mail: elise.radina@uni.edu

A New Look at the Old: Nursing Care of Older Adults October 2004
To meet the changing practice needs of today's nurse, the American Journal of Nursing (AJN), in cooperation with the Gerontological Society of America (GSA), has developed a series of articles designed to provide the latest research and cutting-edge practices to update knowledge and inform nursing practice. The bi-monthly series, called "A New Look at the Old," is funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies.

In the U.S. today, the average American will live to be approximately 77 years of age. Older adults - those 65 and over - constitute 13 percent of our general population, utilize 49 percent of hospital days and 50 percent of physician hours, and comprise 83 percent of residents in long-term care facilities. At the same time, only one percent of nurses are certified in gerontology.

What difference does this make? Nurses in hospitals, home health care, ambulatory care settings, and long-term care facilities need to develop age-specific competencies for the care of older adults. Not only are they required by federal regulatory agencies and the Joint Commission for Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), but nurses with these competencies can provide safer, age-appropriate care that improves outcomes and ultimately reduces length of stay and cost of care.

Are you up to date? Do you know that in older adults:

Dizziness can be a symptom of infection?

Increased dyspnea and confusion are the most common manifestations of myocardial infarction?

Incontinence, increased confusion, and falls could indicate a urinary tract infection?

Learn about this and more in the October AJN article by Elaine J. Amella PhD, APRN, BC, titled Presentation of Illness in Older Adults. To read the article in its entirety, go to: www.NursingCenter.com/AJNolderadults. CE is also available for these articles.

Measuring the Years: State Aging Trends & Indicators
Measuring the Years: State Aging Trends & Indicators identifies current trends and future directions confronting state policy makers. The publication provides a wealth of information on topics ranging from demographic shifts to health care concerns to long term care workforce shortages.

The report, prepared by Laura Summer, Robert Friedland, Katherine Mack, and Susan Mathieu at the Center on an Aging Society, Health Policy Institute at Georgetown University, is available at http://www.nga.org/center/databook04.

Curricular Innovations at Valparaiso University College of Nursing
Valparaiso University College of Nursing's curricular innovations in geriatrics provides an example of what can be accomplished by smaller schools with fewer numbers of faculty members and minimal resources. After mapping curriculum according to the Hartford Institute's Best Nursing Practices in Care of Older Adults Curriculum Guide (2001) and with the impetus of a Hartford grant, the school has initiated the following activities:

As sophomores, students interact with health elderly in a variety of community settings as they learn about faith-based community nursing, as well as therapeutic interventions. Students also care for elders in acute care, rehabilitation, long-term care, and other settings throughout the program.

The Virtual Nursing Learning Center has a geriatric station where students practice skills and apply classroom knowledge. Many new videos, educational posters, and books have been added to the geriatric resources available to students with funds from the Hartford grant.

43 students in the 2005 Spring semester will be the first to take the new three-credit dedicated geriatric course "The Aging Process," which includes both classroom and service-learning experiences. The course is designed to provide students with a solid foundation in gerontology and early positive experiences in relating to and providing care to the elderly.

Faculty members were provided with PDAs and geriatric software to take with them into the clinical sites.

A graduate certificate in gerontology, as well as a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies concentration in gerontology, is now available at VU in addition to the Aging minor.

Dr. Kristin L. Mauk, PhD, RN, CRRN-A, APRN, BC, Associate Professor of Nursing, presented "Integrating Gerontology Content: Curriculum Mapping" at the 2003 Association for Gerontology in Higher Education conference in St. Petersburg, FL. She has also been invited to speak to the Indiana State Nurses Association in February 2005 on gerontological nursing.

Future projects under development include:

A summer geriatric institute to train RNs and LPNs working in long-term care settings in a nine-county area to educate staff, particularly CNAs with regard to specific common problems seen in residents such as prevention of pressure ulcers, promoting good nutrition, and preventing hazards of immobility.

Partnering with local a long-term care facility to develop a teaching nursing home, including providing the opportunity for students to give educational in-services to CNAs on topics such as transfer techniques.

Exploring the future possibility of establishing a Geriatric Education Center at VU.

Dr. Mauk is editing a textbook for Jones and Bartlett that will eventually be used in the classroom. It is based on the competencies for care of older adults set forth by AACN and The John A. Hartford Foundation. No other texts on the market use the competencies as a framework.

For more information about Valparaiso University College of Nursing's curricular innovations in geriatrics, contact Janet Brown, PhD, RN, Dean and Professor, at janet.brown@valpo.edu.

4. HGNI Link of the Month: TechForLTC.Org

The department of Health and Human Services has launched a "TechForLTC.Org" (www.techforltc.org) Web site. The site is a repository of information on technology products designed to improve the quality of life and care in long-term care settings. It allows LTC professionals and consumers to compare products in such categories as bathing, calling for assistance, falls management, wandering management, and incontinence. The "methodology" section explains the terms used on the site and some of the considerations that go into product listings.

Write to Us

We are committed to creating a monthly publication that serves your needs and interests. New Directions, therefore, welcomes your feedback and encourages you to supply ideas, stories, resources, news, and other content for subsequent issues. To make a contribution, please contact Patty Franklin at Pfranklin@aannet.org, Deirdre Thornlow at dthornlo@aacn.nche.edu, or Elaine Gould at elaine.gould@nyu.edu.

Please Note

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