Unlocking the Power of Gerontological Nursing: The Gero Nurse Prep Course
The Gero Nurse Prep course, developed by the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s College of Nursing, is designed to fill gaps in nursing education and prepare nurses for the ANCC Certification Exam in Gerontological Nursing. The course, which was originally funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and has been successfully completed by all participants since its inception, provides nurses with the skills and knowledge needed to improve the care of older adults.
Research conducted by the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) has shown that facilities with at least one RN who is board-certified in gerontological nursing have numerous advantages, including higher quality ratings, lower rehospitalization rates, and fewer deficiencies and citations.
Despite the clear benefits of board certification in gerontological nursing, only 1 percent of RNs have this credential. The Gero Nurse Prep course aims to increase this number and improve the quality of care for older adults. Nurses who complete the course report an average 20-point score differential on pre- and post-tests, indicating a significant increase in knowledge.
The course is particularly valuable for nurses who work in nursing homes, as board-certified gerontological nurses are better equipped to recognize signs of decline in residents and prevent tragic failure-to-rescue scenarios. In addition to improving direct care, certification also enhances nurses' skills in areas such as advocacy, health promotion, and quality improvement.
The Gero Nurse Prep course is a proactive strategy to prepare caregivers for the challenges they'll face in caring for older adults and mitigate the need for reactive measures to address problems that have already occurred. The course is accessible online and provides nurses with potentially life-saving new competencies that can improve the quality of care for older adults.
Source:
Manning, S. (2023). Gerontological nursing certification improves care outcomes and reduces citations, research shows. https://www.providermagazine.com/Articles/Pages/Gerontological-Nursing-Certification-Improves-Care-…