Geriatric Training Academy: innovative education for certified nurse aides and charge nurses.
Quality care for the rapidly growing number of older Americans is a major challenge facing the health care industry today. With the baby-boom generation "coming of age"--older age-the need for quality long-term care workers is on the rise. It is estimated that the number of persons needing assisted or alternative living arrangements will increase from 15 million in 2000 to 27 million in 2050 (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [HHS], 2003). In response to the rising demand for quality long-term care workers, the Geriatric Education and Training Academy (the Academy) was created at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) to provide advanced geriatric education and training for certified nurse aides (CNA), licensed vocational nurses (LVN) and registered nurses (RN) who work in long-term care facilities. This article describes how the Academy is addressing the need for the recruitment, education, and retention of long-term care workers for the expanding geriatric population in West Texas.
Cherry
Barbara
B
School of Nursing, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock 79413, USA.
Marshall-Gray
Paula
P
Laurence
Ann
A
Green
Alexia
A
Valadez
Ana
A
Scott-Tilley
Donna
D
Merritt
Pearl
P
D000368:Aged; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009735:Nursing Homes; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education*; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010560:Personnel Selection; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D015397:Program Evaluation; D013781:Texas; D014146:Training Support; D014481:United States; D014488:United States Health Resources and Services Administration; D000078329:Workforce