Posted: 6/5/2009
The National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA), the nation’s first nursing specialty organization dedicated to improving the quality of nursing care for older adults, has endorsed the new online Guided Care Nursing Course developed by The Institute for Johns Hopkins Nursing (IJHN).
The unique course was developed in collaboration with the Roger C. Lipitz Center for Integrated Health Care at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with funding from the John A. Hartford Foundation. The course, which launches this June, brings together faculty and clinical experts from the Johns Hopkins schools of Nursing, Medicine, and Public Health, as well as The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System, to focus on geriatric care.
“The NGNA has been pivotal in moving this field [geriatric nursing] forward,” says Elizabeth (Ibby) Tanner, PhD, MS, RN, an assistant professor at JHUSON and an active member of the NGNA who participated in developing the curriculum for the IJHN Guided Care Nursing Course. ”The specialty of gerontological nursing is so rewarding - and this new opportunity to combine skills in caring for older adults with the advocacy role of the Guided Care Nurse is very exciting.”
IJHN Executive Director Jane Shivnan, MScN, RN, AOCN, added, “Both organizations will benefit greatly from joining together in the improvement of elder care and in raising the level of training for nurses.” IJHN will benefit from the NGNA endorsement through its extensive network of clinicians, educators, and researchers with vastly different educational preparation, clinical roles, and interest in practice issues. Founded in 1984, the NGNA now has established chapters throughout the U.S.
The six-week learning experience features asynchronous web-based learning modules, live webinars and simulations, and focuses on best practices in chronic disease management, caregiver education and support, transitional care, and geriatric evaluation. The Guided Care Nursing Course will be of interest to nurses who would like to work in this new role in health care, as well as to nurses who wish to increase their knowledge about care of older adults, and learn new skills such as coaching and motivational interviewing. NGNA members will receive a discounted fee of $1500.00 (regular fee $1900.00) to enroll in the course. Tuition includes access to the new online examination and American Nurses Credentialing Centers Certificate in Guided Care upon course completion.
Visit the IJHN website for more information and to register for the Guided Care Nursing Course.