501732 research-article2013
CNR22410.1177/1054773813501732Clinical Nursing ResearchMentes and Perez
Editorial
The John A. Hartford Foundation Hartford Gerontological Nursing Leaders: Improving Care for Older Adults Across the Health Care Continuum
Clinical Nursing Research 22(4) 399–401 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1054773813501732 cnr.sagepub.com
Janet C. Mentes, PhD, APRN, BC, FGSA1 and G. Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC2
In 2000, the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (formerly known as the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Initiative [BAGNC]), funded generously by the John A. Hartford Foundation, made the first call for pre- and postdoctoral applicants to a unique program designed specifically to support 2-year pre- and postdoctoral education for nurses interested in and committed to geriatric nursing (Franklin et al., 2011). The program augmented the initial investment by the John A. Hartford Foundation in five Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence funded in 2000, which has grown to nine in partnership with the Coordinating Center at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). The primary goal was to develop and support nurse faculty who would be in the classroom educating all nurses to be competent to provide care for older adults, in addition to growning nurse scientists and leaders. The BAGNC program awarded 216 pre- and postdoctoral awards in the first 10 years of the program (Franklin et al., 2011). In 2009, the BAGNC Alumni was formed, now known as Hartford 1University 2Arizona
of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing, USA State University, USA
Corresponding Author: Janet C. Mentes, Nurses Caring for Older Adults Young Scholar Program, Center for the Advancement of Gerontological Nursing Research, University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing, 700 Tiverton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
400
Clinical Nursing Research 22(4)
Gerontological Nursing Leaders, to provide opportunities to extend the influence of past scholars and fellows through networking to build partnerships for future scholarly endeavors. Since 2000, the program has supported over 255 pre- and post-doctoral awards. Collectively, alumni have received over $106 million in grant support through federal and private funders to improve the health and quality of life of older adults. In this issue of Clinical Nursing Research (CNR), we highlight the work of past scholars and fellows with articles that address important health issues of older adults in the various health care settings where nurses provide care for older adults. The articles are particularly timely because they support objectives for improving the health of older adults published by Healthy People 2020 that emphasize (a) increasing participation in preventive health screenings for older adults, especially those from underrepresented minority/ethnic groups; (b) improving access to appropriate levels of care; (c) improving quality of life through symptom and disease management initiatives, specifically for older adults with congestive heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, and dementia; (d) preventing injuries, such as falls; and (e) supporting caregivers (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). In the first article, Flores examines the influence of health literacy on older Hispanic women’s decision to get cervical cancer screening. In the second article, D’Avolio and colleagues explore reasons for nonurgent use of the emergency department in older adults who have access to primary care. In a very timely article, Dolansky and colleagues describe a program to improve the management of heart failure in older adults discharged to skilled nursing facilities. Next, Silva-Smith et al. examine methods to improve fall reporting in a growing sector of care for older adults living in assisted living. The last two articles address important geropsychiatric focused problems of resident to resident violence in nursing homes (Snellgrove et al.) and the synergistic complications faced by aging adults with hoarding disorders (Eckfield). Disseminating strong evidence to inform and enhance the practice of clinical nurses supports the vision of BAGNC Alumni. BAGNC gerontological nurse scientists envision a community of scholars providing care in an evidence-based, interprofessional, integrated health care system where all older adults are cared for by providers skilled in gerontological health. CNR provides an ideal forum to communicate the collective impact of nurses supported by the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank J. Taylor Harden, PhD, RN, FAAN, Executive Director, Coordinating Center, National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
401
Mentes and Perez
Excellence, Rachael A. Watman, MSW, Senior Program Oficer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Casey Shillam, PhD, RN-BC, Chair, BAGNC Alumni, Nursing Academic Program Director, Associate Professor, Western Washington University, Woodring College of Education, for their consultation and careful review of this editorial.
References Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity. (2010). Alumni Association. Retrieved June 22, 2013, from http://geriatricnursing.org/alumni-association.asp Franklin, P., Archbold, P., Fagin, C., Galik, E., Siegel, E., Sofaer, S., & Firminger, K. (2011). Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity: Results after the first 10 years and implications for the future. Nursing Outlook, 59, 198-206. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Healthy People 2020. Washington, DC: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http:// www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=31
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
CNR22410.1177/1054773813501732Clinical Nursing ResearchMentes and Perez
Editorial
The John A. Hartford Foundation Hartford Gerontological Nursing Leaders: Improving Care for Older Adults Across the Health Care Continuum
Clinical Nursing Research 22(4) 399–401 © The Author(s) 2013 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.com/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1054773813501732 cnr.sagepub.com
Janet C. Mentes, PhD, APRN, BC, FGSA1 and G. Adriana Perez, PhD, ANP-BC2
In 2000, the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence (formerly known as the Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Initiative [BAGNC]), funded generously by the John A. Hartford Foundation, made the first call for pre- and postdoctoral applicants to a unique program designed specifically to support 2-year pre- and postdoctoral education for nurses interested in and committed to geriatric nursing (Franklin et al., 2011). The program augmented the initial investment by the John A. Hartford Foundation in five Centers of Geriatric Nursing Excellence funded in 2000, which has grown to nine in partnership with the Coordinating Center at the Gerontological Society of America (GSA). The primary goal was to develop and support nurse faculty who would be in the classroom educating all nurses to be competent to provide care for older adults, in addition to growning nurse scientists and leaders. The BAGNC program awarded 216 pre- and postdoctoral awards in the first 10 years of the program (Franklin et al., 2011). In 2009, the BAGNC Alumni was formed, now known as Hartford 1University 2Arizona
of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing, USA State University, USA
Corresponding Author: Janet C. Mentes, Nurses Caring for Older Adults Young Scholar Program, Center for the Advancement of Gerontological Nursing Research, University of California, Los Angeles School of Nursing, 700 Tiverton Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90095-6919, USA. Email: [email protected]
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
400
Clinical Nursing Research 22(4)
Gerontological Nursing Leaders, to provide opportunities to extend the influence of past scholars and fellows through networking to build partnerships for future scholarly endeavors. Since 2000, the program has supported over 255 pre- and post-doctoral awards. Collectively, alumni have received over $106 million in grant support through federal and private funders to improve the health and quality of life of older adults. In this issue of Clinical Nursing Research (CNR), we highlight the work of past scholars and fellows with articles that address important health issues of older adults in the various health care settings where nurses provide care for older adults. The articles are particularly timely because they support objectives for improving the health of older adults published by Healthy People 2020 that emphasize (a) increasing participation in preventive health screenings for older adults, especially those from underrepresented minority/ethnic groups; (b) improving access to appropriate levels of care; (c) improving quality of life through symptom and disease management initiatives, specifically for older adults with congestive heart failure, diabetes, arthritis, and dementia; (d) preventing injuries, such as falls; and (e) supporting caregivers (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). In the first article, Flores examines the influence of health literacy on older Hispanic women’s decision to get cervical cancer screening. In the second article, D’Avolio and colleagues explore reasons for nonurgent use of the emergency department in older adults who have access to primary care. In a very timely article, Dolansky and colleagues describe a program to improve the management of heart failure in older adults discharged to skilled nursing facilities. Next, Silva-Smith et al. examine methods to improve fall reporting in a growing sector of care for older adults living in assisted living. The last two articles address important geropsychiatric focused problems of resident to resident violence in nursing homes (Snellgrove et al.) and the synergistic complications faced by aging adults with hoarding disorders (Eckfield). Disseminating strong evidence to inform and enhance the practice of clinical nurses supports the vision of BAGNC Alumni. BAGNC gerontological nurse scientists envision a community of scholars providing care in an evidence-based, interprofessional, integrated health care system where all older adults are cared for by providers skilled in gerontological health. CNR provides an ideal forum to communicate the collective impact of nurses supported by the National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing Excellence. Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank J. Taylor Harden, PhD, RN, FAAN, Executive Director, Coordinating Center, National Hartford Centers of Gerontological Nursing
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
401
Mentes and Perez
Excellence, Rachael A. Watman, MSW, Senior Program Oficer, The John A. Hartford Foundation, Casey Shillam, PhD, RN-BC, Chair, BAGNC Alumni, Nursing Academic Program Director, Associate Professor, Western Washington University, Woodring College of Education, for their consultation and careful review of this editorial.
References Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity. (2010). Alumni Association. Retrieved June 22, 2013, from http://geriatricnursing.org/alumni-association.asp Franklin, P., Archbold, P., Fagin, C., Galik, E., Siegel, E., Sofaer, S., & Firminger, K. (2011). Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity: Results after the first 10 years and implications for the future. Nursing Outlook, 59, 198-206. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Healthy People 2020. Washington, DC: Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved July 12, 2013, from http:// www.healthypeople.gov/2020/topicsobjectives2020/overview.aspx?topicid=31
Downloaded from cnr.sagepub.com by guest on March 16, 2015
