Psychiatric Nursing and the Older Adult

SECTION 1: FOUNDATIONS

Describe the diversity of the older adult population group, along with pertinent facts and trends regarding:

• common concerns
• demographics, politics and power
• economics & education
• definitions of aging, along with myths and falsely-held beliefs and attitudes
• aging through history, theories of aging and models of care for the older adult
• development and aging

SECTION 2: GERONTOLOGICAL NURSING ROLES

Explain the range of nursing roles and an understanding of:

• the development of gerontological nursing
• principles and standards guiding gerontological nursing
• roles in acute and long term care settings as well as ones in the community
• primary, secondary and tertiary intervention as prevention in both community and inpatient setting
• discharge planning
• psychosocial rehabilitation concepts, environmental concerns
• psychiatric nurses as case/care managers

SECTION 3: HEALTH AND AGING

Identify and utilize key concepts related to how:

• how older adults learn, memory
• to plan care for the older adult, understanding that elder care is a specialized area of practice
• the nurse’s attitude and the client’s attitude influence assessments and care of the older adult
• language  and sensory deficits can affect communication and care
• to deal with issues related to social supports, sexuality and spirituality
• to assist the older adult in developing strategies to avoid falls and other safety hazards through the use of prevention as intervention as a strategy
• to assist the older adult in developing strategies to prevent isolation and inactivity

SECTION 4: OLDER ADULTS AND INPATIENT SETTINGS

Describe and implement concepts and skills related to:

• identification of depression
• identification of delirium
• therapeutic environment, communication and socialization in inpatient settings
• appropriate nutrition, hydration regiments
• avoiding polypharmacy and drug-food interactions
• devising ways to ensure the older adult meets his/her sleep and rest requirements
• being able to teach stress reduction techniques to the older adult as well as be able to convey the importance of stress reduction to health living
• reducing risks for falls, along with identification and prevention of risk factors

SECTION 5: OLDER ADULTS AND THE COMMUNITY

For the exemplar of Dementia; Demonstrate a clear understanding of:

• the needs of the caregiver
• the strengths and stressors of the caregiver
• the trajectory of different caregivers’ experiences
• support systems for caregivers
• one example of community partnerships and caregivers

SECTION 6: PHARMACOLOGY AND AGING

Describe and analyze:

• pharmacodynamics, pharmacokinetics in relation to the aged
• age-related risk factors and adverse reactions to drugs and substances
• polypharmacy and the aged, along with food and drug interactions
• prevention of drug and substance abuse
• alternatives to drugs and other chemicals – teaching and learning
• how to respond to drug and substance misuse and abuse
• effective use of selected techniques and tools in substance use assessment

SECTION 7: LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Appreciation and implementation of nursing interventions with respect to:

• patient rights
• a values history
• the role of  informed consent as well as advanced directives and representation agreements
• research and consent of older adults engaged in research
• restraints
• elder abuse and neglect; along with the prevention of abuse and neglect

SECTION 8: END OF LIFE CONCERNS

Describe and utilize knowledge and interventions pertaining to:

• student’s own experiences with death and end-of-life issues
• family experiences with death and end-of-life concerns
• psychiatric nurses working with individuals facing end-of-life issues
• physical, psychological, emotional, developmental and spiritual needs of the dying patient
• the variety of settings where care for dying individuals can be provided