Report from the American Nurses' Association Council on Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing

Abstract

Society has demonstrated a major need for expanded gerontological and geropsychiatric nursing services. Current needs have not yet been met and the call for service will increase throughout the balance of this century and beyond. Social responsiveness demands that nurses: (1) formally establish their clinical authority in care of the aged; (2) lobby for public policy which enables the provider professional to control the practice environment, rather than be controlled by it; (3) improve the educational preparation of nurses to care for the aged; and (4) expand the professions' scientific and research base in this area. The national professional organization of registered nurses, the American Nurses' Association, provides leadership to influence the course of nursing as it continues to provide vital services in a dramatically changing environment.

Geropsychiatric Nursing Practice in the United States: Present Trends and Future Directions

“…Both psychiatric and gerontological nurse leaders have called for more nurses educated in GPN. Murphy and Hoeffer (1987); Fopma-Loy (1989); Joel, Baldwin, and Stevens (1989); Whall (1990); Richards (1994); and Harper and Grau (1994) recommended integrating content about the care of older persons with acute and chronic mental illnesses throughout undergraduate and graduate nursing curricula in psychiatric and gerontologic nursing so that all nurses, regardless of practice setting, would have the skills and knowledge to care for older adults with mental health care needs. Abraham and Buckwalter (1994) promoted more vigorous integration of the biopsychosocial perspective into new models of practice that emphasize preventive, restorative, and palliative care for older adults who move across health care and residential settings.…”

“…Harper and Grau (1994) have noted that family caregivers also are consumers of GPN services. Joel et al (1989) and Richards (1994) urged development of innovative models of GPN practice that are cost-effective and clinically efficacious, promote the highest level of functioning, and meet the emerging demographic realities of the elderly population.…”