Program evaluation of a new interprofessional geriatrics curriculum for advanced practice nursing and master of social work learners

ABSTRACT

The Indiana Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) implemented a new longitudinal geriatrics curriculum for advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) and master of social work (MSW) learners to prepare them for interprofessional collaborative practice in the care of older adults. This paper reports program outcomes of a novel longitudinal interprofessional geriatrics curriculum involving immersive learning for these learners. Outcomes are described in terms of learner reaction, modification of attitudes/perceptions, acquisition of knowledge/skills, behavior change, impact on the organization, and impact on the patient or client using the Freeth/Kirkpatrick evaluation model. Program participation influenced graduates’ knowledge of and their perceived ability to participate in team care and job selection in geriatric-focused positions.

KEYWORDS:

• Interprofessional curriculum
• program evaluation
• Curriculum

Acknowledgments

Conflict of Interest: The authors have no conflicts

Author Contributions:

Study concept and design: AP, SG, KF, JF, DL

Acquisition of subjects and/or data: AP, SG, KF, EG, JF, DL

Analysis and interpretation of data: AP, SG, KF, NB, YT, JF, DL

Preparation of manuscript: AP, SG, KF, EG NB, YT, JF, DL

We thank Eskenazi Health, the IU Schools of Social Work, Nursing, and Medicine and health providers for serving as clinical preceptors; Steve Counsell, MD for his initial lead role in Indiana GETC; members of the Indiana GETC team for their contributions to the program; Glenda Westmoreland MD, Mary Mueller PhD, FNP-BC, AGPCNP, Dawn Butler MSW, JD for edits on the final versions of the manuscript; and Ms. Sarah Roth for assistance acquisition of data, preparing tables, and with manuscript preparation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Sponsor’s role

This project was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number U1QHP28719 and the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program, with a total award of $3,431,825 over a 4-year period. This information or content and conclusions are those of the authors and should not be construed as the official position or policy of, nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government. The sponsor did not participate in the design, methods, subject recruitment, data collections, analysis, or preparation of this paper. This program has been approved by the academic institution’s IRB.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/13561820.2022.2158182

Correction Statement

This article has been republished with minor changes. These changes do not impact the academic content of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration under the Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) in 2015.

Notes on contributors

Andrea Pfeifle

Andrea Pfeifle is Associate Vice Chancellor for Interprofessional Practice and Education at the Ohio State University and Wexner Medical Center and Professor of Family and Community Medicine.

Susan Glassburn

Susan Glassburn, LCSW, Ph.D. is a PrProfessor inhe Indiana University School of Social Work with an education research focus on interprofessional education and practice in multiple clinical venues.

Kathryn Frank

Kathryn Frank RN, Ph.D. is an Administrator in the Indiana University School of Medicine Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics with a clinical and education research focus on interprofessional education.

Janet S. Fulton

Janet S. Fulton, Ph.D., RN, ACNS-BC, FAAN, Centennial Endowed Professor in Innovation in Nursing Education at Indiana University School of Nursing, is widely published in the area of interprofessional education as well as a focus on clinical nurse specialist role and practice.

Emilie Garrison

Emilie Garrison has been Project Management Specialist for the Indiana Geriatrics Education and Training Center at Indiana University School of Medicine for the Division of General Internal Medicine & Geriatrics since 2015 and in this role, she has been the Project Manager for the Indiana Geriatrics Education and Training Center.

Yan Tong

Yan Tong, Ph.D. is an Assistant Research Professor of Biostatistics and Health Data Science in the Indiana University School of Medicine.

Debra Litzelman

Debra K Litzelman, MD is the Director of the Geriatric Workforce Enhancement Program (GWEP) at the Indiana University School of Medicine and a Senior Research Investigator at the Regenstrief Institute focused on Health Services Research.