|
AACN
Joins with the Alliance for Aging Research to Rally
Support for Geriatric Health Care Education
Initiative
Advances the Work of The John A. Hartford Foundation
WASHINGTON,
DC, February 27, 2002 - Today, the American Association of
Colleges of Nursing (AACN) announced that it is joining with
the health care community to raise awareness of the critical
need for more nurses and other health professionals specializing
in geriatric care. AACN joins with the Alliance for Aging
Research to focus attention on expanding education programs
and adapting curriculum to better equip health professionals
to provide quality care to older adults.
"AACN
recognizes that the number of nurses specializing in geriatric
care is insufficient to meet current and projected demands,"
says AACN President Carolyn A. Williams. "The association
vigorously supports the mission of the Alliance for Aging
Research, The John A. Hartford Foundation, and other groups
working together to bridge this health care gap and infuse
geriatric curriculum into the education of every nurse."
AACN is
currently administering two programs aimed at advancin g geriatric
nursing education that are generously supported by The John
A. Hartford Foundation of New York. The Geriatric Nursing
Education Project was created to enhance geriatric nursing
content in baccalaureate and advanced practice nursing programs.
The project encourages curricula innovations, supports new
alliances between the educational and practice settings, and
identifies model programs that may be mirrored at institutions
nationwide. The Creating Careers in Geriatric Advanced Practice
Nursing initiative provides scholarship monies to schools
of nursing to expand opportunities for nursing students to
choose a career in geriatric advanced practice nursing.
"Policymakers,
health care providers, and the academic community must work
together to ensure that the specific health care needs of
our nation's senior population are met," adds Dr. Williams.
"Federal solutions including financial incentives for
nurses to further their education and increased funding for
geriatric research and geriatric centers of excellence must
be considered as mechanisms to address this particular shortage
of health care professionals."
For more
information on programs of The John A. Hartford Foundation,
see http://www.jhartfound.org/grants/grants.htm.
For more information on AACN's programs, click
here.
The American Association of
Colleges of Nursing is the national voice for university and
four-year-college education programs in nursing. Representing
more than 570 member schools of nursing at public and private
institutions nationwide, AACN's educational, research, governmental
advocacy, data collection, publications, and other programs
work to establish quality standards for bachelor's- and graduate-degree
nursing education, assist deans and directors to implement
those standards, influence the nursing profession to improve
health care, and promote public support of baccalaureate and
graduate nursing education, research, and practice. See http://www.aacn.nche.edu.
CONTACT:
Robert Rosseter
(202) 463-6930, x231
rrosseter@aacn.nche.edu
| 
