A comparison of curricular approaches of care of the aged in Swedish and US nursing programs.
In an era of global aging, the steady increase in older people in Sweden and the United States is having a direct effect on nursing practice, presenting unprecedented opportunities and challenges in nursing education. The aim of this study was to highlight differences and similarities in curricular approaches to care of aged in Swedish and US baccalaureate nursing programs. The Swedish response rate was 100% (N=26); the US response rate was 36% (N=202). The results, which compare curricula approaches, have implications for nursing education in Sweden and the United States. Both include stand-alone and integrated courses on care of the aged, geriatrics and gerontology. Differences are noted in the percentage of programs that include care of the age in their curricula and the clinical education settings. Results of this study add to the sparse body of knowledge of cross-cultural nursing research on curricular approaches to geriatrics and gerontology, high-light similarities and differences in nursing education in two countries and invite dialogue among nurse educators. Future research is needed to address curricular issues on the aged population and cross cultural perspectives.
Fagerberg
Ingegerd
I
Department of Caring and Public Health Sciences, Mälardalen University, Västerås, Sweden. ingegerd.fagerberg@mdh.se
Gilje
Fredricka
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013548:Sweden; D014481:United States