Because the complex needs of older adults are relevant to all nurses, the Nurse Competence in Aging (NCA) initiative seeks to enhance the geriatric competence-including the knowledge, skills, and attitudes-of the nearly 400,000 RNs who belong to more than 50 national specialty nursing associations. The NCA is a five-year initiative that began in September 2002. Funded by the Atlantic Philanthropies, the grant was awarded to the ANA through the American Nurses Foundation and represents a strategic alliance between the ANA, the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), and the John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University.
"The ANA recognizes the need for a workforce prepared to deliver high-quality health care to older adults," says Linda J. Stierle, MSN, RN, CNAA,BC, the ANA's chief executive officer. "Geriatric competence combined with specialty expertise will have a tremendous impact on the nursing profession."
"We believe that all specialty nurses should have additional preparation in geriatrics," says Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, director of the Hartford Institute. "Whether they specialize in oncology, rehabilitation, psychiatry, urology, or other areas, nurses care for a significant proportion of older adults. Such training translates into better patient care and professional growth for nurses."
The NCA is committed to
* enhancing geriatric activities of national specialty nursing associations by awarding grants and providing technical assistance to promote geriatric best practice initiatives and creating structures to sustain them. Twenty-seven associations have formed partnerships with the ANA and receive funding as ANA-Specialty Nursing Association Partners in Geriatrics.
* promoting gerontologic nursing certification. Efforts include facilitating the conversion of the ANCC's gerontologic nursing certification examinations to a computer-based format and offering the exams six days a week in more than 200 locations nationwide. In addition, a national campaign encourages nurses to become certified in gerontology in addition to their specialty. A brochure on gerontologic nursing certification and an application are available at http://www.nursecredentialing.org.
* providing a comprehensive geriatric nursing Web site (http://www.geronurseonline.org) that offers information on core and specialty geriatric nursing best practices.
For more information about the NCA, visit http://www.geronurseonline.org or http://www.hartfordign.org/nca. -Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN, director, and Jessica Scholder Esterson, MPH, executive project manager, John A. Hartford Foundation Institute for Geriatric Nursing