An Analysis of Nursing Preparation to Meet the Demands of the Largest U.S. Patient Population

Americans aged 65 and older compared to people aged 20-64 is expected to rise by 80% over the next decade. The oldest of the 80 million baby boomers reached age 65 in 2011 and, more than a quarter of all Americans – or three out of four are estimated to have at least two or more chronic conditions or behavioral health problems. Currently 75% of the American population is living with and dying from symptomatic chronic conditions contributing to the costliest health care in the US. The Affordable Care Act has provided funding and direction by the US Department of Health and the Health Services to promote initiatives from the Institute of Medicine, the Agency for Health Research and Quality, the National Institutes of Health and the Health Resources and Services Administration among other federal agencies to demonstrate innovation and initiatives targeting patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) and implementing self-management practices This presentation will provide an overview of the current federal initiatives and describe three research projects that highlight the need for undergraduate and graduate nursing education in the clinical management of common chronic disease, symptoms and self-management.