Need for Gerontological Nursing Education Among Nursing Students

간호대학생의 노인간호 교육프로그램 개발을 위한 기초연구

Purpose: This study is conducted to survey the nursing students' need for lectures on gerontological nursing. Methods: The subjects of this study were 257 nursing students, at a college in Chungbuk, who had just finished two weeks' of gerontological nursing practice. The subjects' need for gerontological nursing education was surveyed using a structured questionnaire, after gerontological nursing practice during the period from November 2, 2009 to April 25, 2011. Results: The mean need for gerontological nursing education was 4.07 out of 5. By domain, educational need was highest for the geriatric health problems (4.32), which were followed by gerontological nursing skills (4.05), geriatric nursing process (4.01), and gerontological nursing theories (3.84). The need for gerontological nursing education was different, according to the subjects' interest in the elderly, and their perceived necessity of gerontologcial nursing education. Conclusion: Nursing students' need for gerontological nursing education was high in general, and particularly, in the domains of geriatric health problems and gerontological nursing skills. In order to meet their educational needs, accordingly, we need to develop and apply reinforcement education programs related to that of the geriatric health problems and gerontological nursing skills, as well as to assess the students' educational needs continuously.