Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 34 No. 5 May 2008
By Barbara B. Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN; Basia Belza, PhD, RN; Marie-Annette Brown, PhD, ARNP, RN, FNP, FAAN
EXCERPT
The statistics are staggering and cited often: Between 2000 and 2030, the U.S. population of older adults is projected to double as the Baby Boomer generation turns 65 (He, Sengupta, Velkoff, & DeBarros, 2005). These increased numbers of older adults bring more complex health care needs, including startling epidemics of obesity and diabetes, and higher acuity during a nursing shortage that is only projected to get worse (Auerbach, Buerhaus, & Staiger, 2007). Escalating retirements of clinical nurse experts and leaders contribute to this worsening nursing shortage (Hader, Saver, & Steltzer, 2006), as do faculty shortages that result in qualified applicants being turned away from undergraduate and graduate nursing programs (American Association of Colleges of Nursing [AACN], 2007).
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Barbara B. Cochrane, PhD, RN, FAAN is Associate Professor, Department of Family and Child Nursing, de Tornyay Term Professor for Healthy Aging.
Basia Belza, PhD, RN is Professor, Department of Biobehavioral Nursing and Health Systems, The Aljoya Endowed Professor in Aging.
Marie-Annette Brown, PhD, ARNP, RN, FNP, FAAN is Professor, Department of Family and Child Nursing, Group Health Endowed Nursing, Professor in Chronic Illness Care, School of Nursing, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.
