Graduate education in geropsychiatric nursing: findings from a national survey.
By 2030, the numbers of older adults with mental illness will strain our health care system. Sufficient advanced practice nurses (APNs) with specialized knowledge to provide care will be critical. All 339 graduate nursing programs in the US were surveyed regarding the extent and nature of geropsychiatric nursing (GPN) content in their curricula. Of 206 schools responding, 15 reported having a GPN subspecialty. Regarding the 60 schools with a psychiatric/mental health nursing (PMHN) graduate program, only one third (n = 23) included some GPN content, while more than half (n = 116) of all schools reported integration of GPN content in a non-psychiatric nurse practitioner program. Thus, currently, the greatest numbers of APNs receiving education on mental health needs of older adults are prepared in non-psychiatric nurse practitioner programs. This article discusses the implications for nursing education and practice.
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, 418 Curie Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6096, USA.
Lenore H
LH
Kurlowicz
William J
WJ
Puentes
Lois K
LK
Evans
Monda M
MM
Spool
Sarah J
SJ
Ratcliffe
D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003479:Curriculum / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000458:organization & administration*; D022143:Family Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D005544:Forecasting; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D005852:Geriatric Psychiatry / Q000193:education*; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000451:nursing; D009722:Nurse Practitioners / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011361:Professional Competence; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D012579:Schools, Nursing / Q000458:organization & administration; D013041:Specialties, Nursing / Q000193:education* / Q000458:organization & administration; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology