Journal of Gerontological Nursing
Vol. 36 No. 7 July 2010
By Jeanne M. Novotny, PhD, RN, FAAN
EXCERPT
It is indeed a great honor for me to be asked to write this editorial, especially since my clinical background is in maternal and child health. In my role as a dean, I now have a broad perspective that I did not have when I was a staff nurse or a faculty member. I have become acutely aware of the lack of focus on older adults in our schools of nursing and in our clinical worlds. It does not take long to realize that, in all areas where students are learning the skills of critical analysis and mastering the complexity of care, the overwhelming majority of their patients are 65 and older! Everyone needs to understand that the core business of our hospitals, home care agencies, and other clinical sites is the care of older adults.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeanne M. Novotny, PhD, RN, FAAN, is Dean and Professor, Fairfield University School of Nursing, Fairfield, Connecticut.
The author discloses that she has no significant financial interests in any product or class of products discussed directly or indirectly in this activity, including research support.
doi:10.3928/00989134-20100527-97
