Gerontological content in Canadian baccalaureate nursing programs: cause for concern?

Abstract

Over the next several decades the number of older Canadians will rise dramatically. This shift will have implications for the demand for health-care professionals, particularly nurses, educated to work with an aging population. The purpose of this study was to assess the status of gerontological content in Canadian undergraduate nursing curricula. Earthy's Survey of Gerontological Curricula in Canadian Baccalaureate Nursing Programs was used to collect data from a convenience sample of Canadian nursing schools and faculties with baccalaureate programs. Data were analyzed using descriptive and frequency statistics. Gerontological content was found to be integrated into the majority of programs, but only 8% of clinical hours had a focus on the nursing care of older adults and only 5.5% of students chose geriatrics for their final clinical practical prior to graduation. Implications include the need to develop faculty expertise, the potential for interdisciplinary gerontology education in the health sciences, and the need to address ageism in the nursing profession.