USF
gets $100,000 to educate nursing students
in the specialized care of older adults
The
University of St. Francis College of Nursing and
Allied Health is awarded two grants for more than
$100,000 that will further the study of geriatric
nursing and promote healthy, successful aging
in cooperation with seven area agencies that work
with senior citizens.
"The graying of our nation’s citizens
has produced rising numbers in geriatric residential
settings in need of knowledgeable and highly skilled
nursing care," said Maria Connolly, dean
of the College of Nursing. However, only 23 percent
of the nation’s 570 bachelor of science in
nursing programs have a required course in geriatric
nursing, she noted.
Evidence is overwhelming that nurses prepared
in geriatrics significantly improve health care
to older adults no matter where they work—in
hospitals, home care, clinics or skilled nursing
facilities, added Connolly referring to studies
by the American Nurses Association.
Most nurses practice in settings where the average
age of their patients is 50 and older, noted Connolly.
"Without more education in the care of the
older adult, there will remain a gap in between
identified geriatric best practices and how practicing
nurses without knowledge of these best practices
deliver care to older adult patients. Our goal
is to bridge this gap by first educating our nursing
faculty, then our nursing students. With the collaboration
of these seven very active Joliet agencies, we
will bring this new knowledge directly to older
adults in assisted living settings, retirement
homes, long-term care facilities, churches and
clinics," said Connolly.
While the nursing shortage is a major concern
with 2,500 vacant full-time registered nursing
positions in metropolitan Chicago area hospitals,
the situation is worse in long-term care facilities,
according to Connolly. "In nursing, we know
the only health care institutions that bear our
profession’s name is the ‘nursing home’.
Yet, these facilities continually have a shortage
of registered nurses who have expertise in geriatric
nursing," she said.
The two grants awarded to the University of St.
Francis address the issues of training nurses
in geriatrics, exposing and educating student
nurses to that area of practice and educating
senior citizens regarding healthy lifestyle both
physically and spiritually.
"USF is absolutely committed to further enriching
the undergraduate and graduate curriculums with
geriatric study," said Connolly, noting that
USF has already begun incorporating geriatrics
study in its programs. The nursing faculty of
the College of Nursing & Allied Health has
designed the nursing program with special emphasis
on care of the older adult with courses on healthy
aging, theoretical concepts of aging and the clinical
management of acute and chronic illnesses in the
older adult.
The Retirement Research Foundation in Chicago
has awarded USF $95,159 to support the project
"Disseminating Successful Aging Innovations:
From Curriculum to Community." Dr. Catherine
Ferrario and Dr. Gaile Nellett, USF professors
of nursing are the grant’s project directors.
The project is an education and training initiative
in collaboration with the Senior Services Center
of Will County, the Will-Grundy Medical Clinic,
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, Victory Center of Joliet,
Provena Villa Franciscan, Senior Programs of Catholic
Charities and HCR Manor Care of Hinsdale.
USF nursing students will be mentored and educated
regarding the latest and best practices in promoting
wellness among senior citizens. In turn, they
will conduct educational programs for seniors
at the above agencies.
A program instituted last year began preparing
USF nursing students to take leadership roles
in various geriatric settings for the well elderly
in assisted living housing and long-term care
agencies. USF nursing students spend four weeks
just before they graduate at Provena Villa Franciscan
long-term care facility. During this time, students
experience firsthand how chronic diseases are
manifested in the geriatric population.
The Retirement Research Foundation grant also
requires that two USF nursing faculty—Ferrario
and Nellett—become gerontology experts through
post-doctoral study. Both will also become nationally
certified in gerontology nursing. Of the nation’s
2.2 million practicing nurses, only 1 percent
is certified in geriatric nursing, noted Connolly.
Geriatric nursing will also be promoted through
a $6,675 grant to USF from the Promise of Nursing
Illinois, Nursing School Grant Program administered
by the Foundation of the National Students Nurses
Association. The grant will support faculty development
in the area of geriatric nursing.
"This project has great significance to the
health and well-being of senior citizens and to
the nursing profession," said Connolly. "We’re
looking forward to seeing the beginning results.
We expect these educational programs to have an
immediate impact on seniors in promoting healthy,
successful aging."
The University of St. Francis is a national leader
in offering educational opportunities to health
care professionals. The university offers several
areas of study in the health field, including
nursing, the nursing B.S.N. fast track option,
radiography, radiation therapy, medical technology
and nuclear medicine technology as well as pre-professional
programs for those interested in attending medical,
dental, physical therapy or veterinary school.
USF also has graduate programs in nursing and
physician assistant studies.
USF serves more than 4,300 students nationwide
including 1,800 at its Joliet campus.