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The impact of the growing population of the elderly and the rapid increase in the 80-plus segment of the population presents a social concern which undoubtedly will increase the need for well-educated gerontological nurses. They as a result must contribute to health policy formulation in aging matters. Gerontological nurses do too much "reacting" and not enough "acting" with regard to policy. This is evident in the national debate regarding DRGs and cost containment. The impact of legislative policy on cost control (Chapter 372) on Massachusetts nurses was severe. This policy implementation held more penalties for nursing than for most other health care professionals, or even for highly paid administrative personnel, and because nurses contributed little to the making of this policy, the damage was done to the whole profession before most were even aware.
Upcoming is a new fight, and the next arena will soon be in the educational institutions, Watchl Universities will close gerontological nursing programs because these programs do not, at this time, attract the numbers of students needed to be cost-effective. Students in the field are in competition with students in...