A new, four-part Webinar series for nurses on improving the geriatric care environment in hospitals will be presented during fall 2009 by the NICHE program (Nurses Improving Care for Health-System Elders), based at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing. The monthly sessions take place from October to January, with the first one to be held on October 7, 2009.
Alternate Contact: Barbara Bricoli | 212-992-9753 | barbara.bricoli@nyu.edu
A new, four-part Webinar series for nurses on improving the geriatric care environment in hospitals will be presented during fall 2009 by the NICHE program (Nurses Improving Care for Health-System Elders), based at the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at NYU College of Nursing. The monthly sessions take place from October to January, with the first one to be held on October 7, 2009.
Older adults-who use roughly 60 percent of patient days-experience age-related sensory and cognitive changes that can significantly impact their ability to function successfully in an unfamiliar hospital setting. The Webinar series addresses both the physical environment for older patients and practice issues for nurses, such as their ability to work with other disciplines, secure resources, and coordinate care to meet patient and family needs.
The hour-long Webinar sessions will be presented by experts in the design of hospital care and nurse practice environments. Topics to be addressed include:
- Age-related changes and their relationship to the physical health care environment;
- The impact of unit design and capital equipment on geriatric patient care and meeting regulatory mandates;
- Strategies to meet regulatory pressures;
- Safe patient handling to reduce nurse injuries and protect the safety of nurses and patients.
“Nursing care of the older adult requires specialized knowledge and skill,” says Marie Boltz, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, assistant professor and practice director of the Hartford Institute. “To apply these competencies to meet the needs of older patients, hospital nurses require a practice environment that supports their professional autonomy while providing geriatric-specific resources.”
Taking place in real time, with audience participation, the Webinar series is geared toward nurses at all levels, from staff nurses to chief nursing officers. It can be watched by individuals at their desks or by groups of up to 15 staff members for training purposes. The only requirement is a telephone (or speaker phone) and a projection screen for groups. The cost is $89 per phone line for NICHE members and $99 per phone line for non-NICHE members.*
The four upcoming Webinar sessions are:
- October 7, 2009, 12:30 - 1:30 pm EST “Optimizing the Hospital Environment for Older Patients” Featuring: Margaret Calkins, Ph.D, M.Arch, an expert in the creation and evaluation of long-term care settings, particularly for individuals with dementia
- November 5, 2009, 1:30 - 2:30pm EST “Unit Design and Capital Equipment in U.S. Hospitals” Featuring: Ann Minnick, PhD, RN, FAAN, senior associate research dean and Chenault Professor of Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing; and Lorraine Mion, PhD, RN, FAAN, Independence Foundation Professor of Nursing, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing, and senior nurse researcher at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland
- December 3, 2009, 12:30 - 1:30 pm EST “The Geriatric Nurse Practice Environment” Featuring: Marie Boltz, PhD, RN, GNP-BC, assistant professor and practice director of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing
- January 13, 2010, 1:00 - 2:00pm EST “Safe Patient Handling: A Revolution!” Featuring: Nancy Nivison Menzel, PhD, RN, COHN-S, associate professor, University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Nursing, focusing on the prevention of back injuries in nurses
For more information on these Webinar sessions, visit: http://nicheprogram.org/conference/online
*Student discount available with proof of full-time status at a college, university, or nursing school. Prior to registration, please e-mail proof of enrollment to sahiba.anand@nyu.edu to receive a discount code.
For more information and to register, please contact Sahiba Anand at 212-998-5383.
The goal of NICHE is to achieve systematic nursing change that will benefit hospitalized older patients. The vision of NICHE is for all patients 65 and over to be given sensitive and exemplary care. The mission of NICHE is to import principles and tools to stimulate a change in the culture of healthcare facilities to achieve patient-centered care for older adults.