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ABSTRACT
Continuing education (CE) is intended to enable nurses to pursue their professional development, be lifelong learners, and function in their roles safely and proficiently. The challenge for those providing CE programs for practicing nurses has been to establish the importance of these programs for improving nursing practice and patient outcomes. It is difficult to determine whether nurses who attend these courses implement what they have learned because evaluation methods are varied, are limited to isolated programs, and have focused on teaching strategies. This article describes two models of CE programs in gerontological nursing for practicing RNs, both of which use interactive and collaborative teaching strategies to teach best practices in geriatric nursing, as well as changes in nursing practice resulting from education.
Adults age 65 and older numbered 37.3 million in 2006, representing 12.4% of the U.S. population, or approximately one in every eight Americans. It is estimated that by 2030 there will be approximately 71.5 million people age 65 and older, and they will constitute approximately 20% of the total U.S. population (U.S. Administration on Aging, 2008). Many older adults live with complex functional and health-related problems, and they currently make up the bulk of health care consumers (Burbank, Dowling-Castronovo, Crowther, & Capezuti, 2006). Those age 65+ represent 50% of hospitalizations, 85% of home care visits, and more than 90% of nursing home residents (Bednash, Fagin, & Mezey, 2003). Thus, there is an urgent need for nurses knowledgeable in gerontology to work with the older adult population. Even nurses with many years of experience need to enhance and update their geriatric knowledge and skills to provide effective and efficient age-specific care in diverse settings (Kovner, Mezey, & Harrington, 2002).
Continuing education (CE) is intended to enable nurses to pursue their professional development, be lifelong learners, and function in their roles safely and proficiently. RNs have always been encouraged by professional organizations to update their knowledge and maintain clinical competence. Despite an increasing body of empirical research, the impact of CE on nursing practice remains unclear (Griscti & Jacono, 2006). The challenge for those providing CE programs for practicing nurses has been to establish the importance of these programs for improving nursing practice and patient outcomes (Henderson & Winch, 2008). It is difficult...