SPECIAL SESSION: Development of a National Cadre of Leaders in Geriatric Nursing: Outcomes Impacting the Future of Care for Older Adults

Description/Overview: The national Geriatric Nursing Leadership Academy (GNLA) has developed nurse leaders who have achieved significant outcomes in three domains: individual leadership and career development, advancement of practice through interdisciplinary leadership projects, and sustained impact at the organizational, community, and professional level. The academy which is funded through a grant from the John A. Hartford Foundation and is administered by Sigma Theta Tau International is engaged in the second cohort of Fellows. As the needs for providing care for older adults increase, we must have a cadre of developed nurse leaders 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 interdisciplinary leadership has been correlated with improved patient care outcomes, increased retention of personnel, and sustained system change in healthcare organizations. Through this rigorous intellectual and experiential learning platform, dedicated mentoring relationships, and strategic partnerships with senior executives opportunities were created for the GNLA Fellows to impact practice at the individual patient and family level, within the interdisciplinary 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.