Online course now includes new evidence-based content that addresses the care of older adult patients

NYUCN's NICHE Geriatric Patient Care Associate 2nd Edition Curriculum Released

NICHE Contact: Barbara Bricoli | 212-992-9753 | barbara.bricoli@nyu.edu

New York University College of Nursing's Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing's Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders program (NICHE) announces the release of the 2nd edition of the Geriatric Patient Care Associate (GPCA) curriculum, a web-based course that supports the role of the patient care associate/patient care technician in providing best practice care to older adult hospital patients. The updated series now includes new evidence-based content, a self-paced interactive format, and post-tests to evaluate learning outcomes. Content is based on the Evidence-Based Geriatric Nursing Protocols for Best Practice (2012) book and other sources.

The GPCA curriculum complements the soon-to-be-released 2nd edition of the NICHE Geriatric Resource Nurse (GRN) training program and the NICHE Introduction to Gerontology series designed for all hospital personnel. Combined, these curricula enable educators to deliver a comprehensive education program of evidence-based geriatric nursing care in their hospital.

The seven GPCA course modules address issues relevant to the health care worker who plays a pivotal role in the older adult’s recovery and comfort:

• Age-related Sensory Loss

• Challenges of Hospitalization: Focus on Frailty, Function, Feeding and Nutrition, and Falls

• Partnering with Therapists: Speech, Respiratory, Occupational and Physical Therapists

• Skin Tears and Pressure Ulcers

• Comfort Needs: Pain, Sleep, Palliative Care

• Is Your Patient Confused? Delirium, Dementia, Depression

• Can I Go Home Now?

“The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that between 2008 and 2018 the use of nursing and psychiatric aides will increase by 20%. This means the role of the patient care associate is becoming even more pervasive in the health care setting,” says Marie Boltz, Ph.D., RN, GNP-BC, associate director, Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, Practice Initiatives. “And they have a vital role to play, as patient care associates often have more patient contact than any other health care team member, including doctors and nurses.”

The completed course provides sixteen contact hours. The course can be accessed by NICHE hospitals in the online NICHE Knowledge Center at http://www.nicheprogram.org/knowledge_center.

The NICHE Knowledge Center houses an extensive portfolio of tools and resources for health care providers, organizations, and consumers to use in improving quality of care and patient outcomes.

About NICHE

NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is designed to help hospitals improve the care of older adults. A program of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing, the vision of NICHE is for all patients 65-and-over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The mission of NICHE is to provide principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of health care facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults.

For more information visit www.nicheprogram.org. Follow us on Twitter: @NICHEProgram

Press Contact

Christopher James
Christopher James
(212) 998-6876