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Learning Objective 1: increase their capacity to recognize and communicate important changes in condition and appreciate the significance of geriatric syndromes in seniors through focused training
Learning Objective 2: develop a senior service line within a hospital system using NICHE as a foundational program to build other model geriatric/senior care programs
Frail seniors receive care in facilities across the continuum of care. Many hospitalized and nursing facility patients are seniors often transferring between sites. Presentation of illness in seniors can be vague and atypical, with geriatric syndromes manifesting as serious changes, frequently not recognized by nurses. Nurses across the continuum of care lack specific training in the care for seniors.
Project Purpose
Two project purposes were to: 1.) Increase the nurse’s capacity to recognize and communicate important changes in condition and appreciate the significance of geriatric syndromes in seniors through focused training; 2.) Develop a senior service line within a hospital system using NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) as a foundational program to build other model geriatric/senior care programs. The working hypothesis was a senior-focused nurse training program would increase interest in senior care services.
Methods
The “Teach-Me-Tuesday©” (TMT) training program, consisting of 10 two-hour nurse practitioner led and five online modules, using the NICHE Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) curriculum, provided continuing education for nurses with the goal of advancing hospital and long-term care nurses from novice to competent geriatric resource nurses. Pre/post-test format assessed cohort knowledge of geriatric/senior care.
Project Summary
Over 160 nurses representing; an academic medical center, four community hospitals, 21 skilled nursing facilities, and one home care agency were recruited to the program. The TMT program resulted in; four NICHE-designated hospitals, four NICHE “Affiliate” member skilled nursing facilities and anticipated 145 Geriatric Resource Nurses. The program is the foundation for geriatric service line development and nursing integration within the University Hospitals Health System, in Cleveland, Ohio. GRN’s across the healthcare settings have assumed new roles as leaders within their institutions. National project dissemination included five other hospital systems represented in the Medicare Innovations Collaborative that adopted the foundation for geriatric/senior care program development.
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