FUTURE HISTORY The Future History of Gerontological Nursing

Having established an academic and clinical infrastructure, geriatric nursing is well positioned to play a central role in improving the health of the nation’s older adults now and in the future. Currently, whether working inde-pendently, in collaborative practice with physicians, or as members of geriatric teams, geriatric nurse practition-ers and clinical specialists have been shown to improve care to older adults in the community, in hospitals, and in skilled nursing facilities. Sixty-three master’s programs now prepare advanced practice geriatric nurses. Geri-atric nurse researchers have contributed to our understanding of the most pressing problems that impact pro-foundly on the health and quality of life of older adults. Despite these advances, the number of geriatric nurse specialists remains small, with only 4200 certified specialists and a serious shortage of geriatric nursing faculty. Geriatric nursing is moving to ensure geriatric competency in all nurses who work with older adults in the fu-ture. The future should see the benefits of current efforts to infuse geriatric content into baccalaureate programs that prepare registered nurses, into master’s programs that prepare adult and family nurse practitioners, and into the day-to-day practice of the nation’s 2.2 million practicing registered nurses. HE history of geriatric nursing in the United States is notable for the scope of its response to the burgeoning demands of older adults and their families. The America