SPECIAL SESSION: Outcomes and Impact of the Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy

Description/Overview: The Fellows of the national Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy (GNLA) have achieved significant outcomes in three domains: individual leadership and career development, advancement of practice through interprofessional leadership projects, and sustained impact at the organizational, community, and professional levels. As the needs for providing care for older adults increase, we must have a cadre of nurse leaders such as these who are prepared to transform relevant practice, education, research, and policy. Acute care settings, community health agencies, and long term care facilities must all have nurse leaders who can facilitate a positive future within a climate of constant change and reform. Effective interprofessional leadership has been correlated with improved patient care outcomes, increased retention of personnel, and sustained system change in healthcare organizations. Through the rigorous intellectual and experiential learning platform of the GNLA, dedicated mentoring and faculty relationships, and strategic partnerships with senior executives of healthcare organizations; opportunities were created for the Fellows to impact practice at the individual patient and family level, within the interprofessional team, and throughout organization, system, and community arenas. This session will present outcome data for each of the three domains and exemplars of specific achievements for each. In addition, a presentation by the Amy Berman Geriatric Nursing Leadership Awardee will be included in this session. The academy is funded by a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation and is administered by Sigma Theta Tau International.