Baccalaureate Nursing Students’ Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward Older Adults

Abstract

Preparing nurses to care for a growing population of older adults is one of the most significant challenges for nursing education. The purpose of the current study was to describe baccalaureate nursing students' knowledge of and attitudes toward older adults, and explore the impact of a gerontological nursing course on their knowledge and attitudes. Results showed that students who had prior experience with older adults had significantly more positive attitudes toward them. Although students who participated in a gerontological nursing course had significantly higher knowledge scores than the comparison group, no significant difierence was noted in overall attitude. In addition, students who were enrolled in the gerontological nursing course or had prior experience with older adults were more likely to report plans to work with this population after graduation. Students who participated in interviews with older adults found the experience meaningful and their attitudes regarding older adults were largely positive.