Course Description

One of Europe's largest institutes for ageing presents this 5-day foundation course in gerontological nursing.


AIM

The aims of the course are:

1.     To develop the knowledge required to meet the complex needs of older people in care settings such as acute, residential, rehabilitation and the community.

2.     To develop the skills required to function as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team caring for the older person.

LEARNING OUTCOMES

On completion of this programme, the student will be able to:

1.     Gain a good understanding of the common conditions/illnesses that older persons may encounter

2.     Recognise the importance of providing person-centred care for the older person

3.     Develop an understanding of the normal ageing process

4.     Develop the knowledge required to provide holistic care to the older person

5.     Identify the need to apply specialist gerontological knowledge to practice when caring for the older person 

CONTENT

• Demographics on ageing
• Patient safety programme – the role of the nurse
• Person Centred Care
• Communication and its disorders
• Polypharmacy
• Nutritional needs of the older person
• Management of PEG/RIG tubes
• Overview and management of heart failure
• Bone health and osteoporosis
• Tissue viability – acute and chronic wound management
• Pressure ulcer staging and the SSKIN bundle
• Neurovascular services and conditions
• Overview and management of person presenting with stroke
• Atrial fibrillation
• Blood profile and sepsis
• Frailty
• Falls and syncope services and conditions
• Falls prevention and management
• Concept of social prescribing
• Geriatric oncology
• Safeguarding vulnerable adults
• Psychiatry of the older person
• Depression in the older person
• Delirium in the older person
• Overview and management of person with Parkinson’s disease
• Overview of Dementia
• Communicating with a person with dementia - responsive behaviour
• Nursing the person with dementia in a nursing home setting
• LGBT+ and the older person
• Overview and management of a person presenting with kidney injury
• Urinary incontinence and management
• End of life care

DELIVERY

This five-day course is delivered on live in person in the Davis Coakley Lecture Hall, 1st Floor, MISA building, St James’s Hospital Dublin. Participants are encouraged to attend in person if possible.

If it’s not possible to attend in person, this course is also available online via zoom.

Please note that participants must choose either to attend all five days in person or online. They cannot do some days in person and some days online. 


ASSESSMENT

Multiple choice questions on day 5 of the course.

1000 word case study on relevant gerontological nursing topic due one month after course completion.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Suitable for all nurses working with older persons.

ENTRY CRITERIA

Learners on this programme must meet the following criteria:

• Registered Nurse