BACCALAUREATE STUDENT GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING EXPERIENCES - RAISING CONSCIOUSNESS LEVELS AND AFFECTING ATTITUDES

The purpose of this study was to evaluate perceived learning and attit ude changes of nursing students (n=144) toward care of the elderly pop ulation as a result of a senior capstone course in gerontological nurs ing, Theory content emphasized maximizing individual capabilities of t he elderly and quality of life. Clinical placements occurred in a vari ety of community and institutional settings, with a wide spectrum of e lderly. Student attitudes were assessed using researcher-designed tool s for quantitative and qualitative outcome measurements. Significant i mprovements in student attitudes were found (p<.001). Community-based settings provided significantly more positive experiences (p<.05) comp ared with institutional care. Qualitative findings revealed students g ained positive awareness plus growth in professional abilities. We con clude that a senior capstone course with multi-site, independent, inno vative projects can produce positive attitudes and heightened consciou sness regarding gerontological nursing Other nurse educators can benef it from these findings.