title: Evaluation of the Master's curriculum for elderly nursing: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Improving the quality of health care and rehabilitation for the elderly is one of the most important priorities of the health care system. Given the importance of evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of any program after its implementation, this study was conducted to identify the advantages and weaknesses of a geriatric nursing program at Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study, and the study population comprised students, graduates, and professors of geriatric nursing at the Master of Science level. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews and focus groups. Sixteen interviews were conducted. The interview guide was used as a research tool. Interviews continued until data saturation was reached. Conventional content analysis was used to analyze the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main themes including "motivation to enter geriatric nursing", "lack of employment groundwork", and "lack of practical implementation of the curriculum" were the main findings of the study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Efforts to restructure the administrative system and employment can deter geriatric nursing students from simply earning a degree and actually encourage them to learn the required content. Appraisal and improvement of education facilities for student recruitment can guarantee the practical implementation of the curriculum. Drafting policies to attract graduates in clinical environments, opening up employment opportunities, providing organizational positions for the recruitment of this group, as well as dedicating some wards for elderly special care and providing nursing care to elderly people only can increase students' motivation to learn and their hopes of good job prospects.
authors.affiliation: Ramsar Nursing Care Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran.
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ghaffari
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran.
authors.forename: Nahid
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dehghan-Nayeri
authors.affiliation: Nursing and Midwifery School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran.
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Navabi
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Khatereh
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seylani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging; D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D005851:Geriatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: Iran; MS student; content analysis; geriatric nursing