CHANGES IN NURSING-STUDENTS ATTITUDES AND WORK PREFERENCES AFTER A GERONTOLOGY CURRICULUM

Changes in nursing students' perceptions of and preferences for workin g with the elderly population after completion of a bachelor's program in nursing science were examined. Students (N = 45) officially entere d the nursing program in the first semester of their junior year. The curriculum involved a wide range of clinical experiences and geriatric information. In a pre- / post-test design, the Perceptions of Aging a nd Elderly Inventory (PAEI) and the Elderly Patient Care Inventory (EP CI) were used to measure program impact. A paired t test of pre- and p ost-test scores on the PAEI, revealed significant positive attitudinal changes, t (44) = 4.71, p < .01. Students also reported more favorabl e impressions toward patient care for the elderly, as measured by the EPCI, t (44) = 4.20, p < .01. Qualitative statements by the students p rovide a better understanding why some prospective nursing students ch oose to work with geriatric patients whereas others resist.