Greetings!

Welcome to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing's December 2008 eNewsletter featuring articles, reference materials, useful links, calendar of events and other best practice information on the care of older adults.

This eNewsletter is sponsored by ConsultGeriRN.org.

ConsultGeriRN.org is the authoritative geriatric clinical nursing website of the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing, New York University College of Nursing and the NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for HealthSystem Elders) program, (www.nicheprogram.org). ConsultGeriRN.org contains evidence-based protocols and topics for nurses and other healthcare professionals on the care of older adults. Content is updated regularly.

We would like to hear from you!

Topic content by:
Mary Grace Umlauf,
Laura L. Williams &
Eileen R. Chasens

Sleepiness is a ubiquitous phenomenon, experienced not only as a symptom in a number of medical, psychiatric, and primary sleep disorders but also as a normal physiological state by most individuals over any given 24-hour period. Pathology is inferred both when its presence becomes pervasive (as in narcolepsy) or in its absence (as in insomnia). Alternatively, sleepiness can be considered abnormal when it occurs at inappropriate times or does not occur when desired.

There are many types of sleep diagnoses; the most common disorders reported by older adults are obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and restless legs syndrome. Many sleep disorders share excessive sleepiness as a common symptom, but this symptom is often not evaluated or treated because health care providers are uninformed about the nature of sleep disorders, the symptoms of these disorders, and the many effective treatments available for these conditions.

Learn more about "Sleep" with references and resources by visiting ConsultGeriRN.org.

Family members are an important but often underappreciated resource in caring for hospitalized older adults. The Family Preferences Index is a 14-item approach to exploring caregivers' personal choices for participating in the hospital care of older adult family members. It can be administered as a structured interview or as a questionnaire. Higher scores indicate a greater preference to participate in care. The nurse can use the responses to the index to plan care that builds a partnership with the family.

The How to Try This series is funded by the John A. Hartford Foundation to the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University's College of Nursing in collaboration with the American Journal of Nursing (AJN). This initiative translates the evidence-based geriatric assessment tools in the Try This Assessment Series into cost-free, web-based print and video resources, for caring for older adults. This series can be viewed, downloaded, and shared without any fees. Articles may be printed and copied for educational use without copyright fees. View more information

Join the more than 500 nurse educators nationwide who have already attended a faculty training institute offered by the Geriatric Nursing Education Consortium (GNEC). Only two faculty training sessions remain. GNEC institutes are scheduled for April 1-3, 2009, in San Diego and June 24-26, 2009, in Philadelphia. The first four GNEC institutes sold out quickly, so early registration is encouraged.

Administered by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and generously funded by the Hartford Foundation, GNEC institutes provide educators with the skills and state-of-the-art resources needed to imbed best geriatric nursing practices in senior-level baccalaureate courses.

This professional development opportunity brings many benefits: Attendees receive the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to enhance the clinical care provided by newly educated nurses. Faculty learn how to teach and mentor students about the care of older adults. The train-the-trainer approach prepares nurse educators to lead their colleagues in "gerontologizing" senior-level curricula.
For more information or to apply, see www.aacn.nche.edu/gnec.htm

"The institute was absolutely amazing. The carefully selected speakers were impressive. We are excited to put into action the direction you have given us." -Donna F. Richards, PhD, RN, and Valerie Flattes, RN, GNP, University of Utah.

Mathy Mezey, EdD, RN, FAAN
Professor and Director
Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing
New York University College of Nursing

A recent article underscores how much older adults really dislike being referred to by terms such as "dearie," or "sweetie" or have nurses or doctors talk to their adult children but not to them when they are in the room (NY Times, October 6, 2008). Unfortunately, nurses often hear staff do this and, on occasion, nurses themselves use such terms when talking to older patients or ignore them and instead talk to a family member. These lapses not only make older adults feel angry and demeaned, they can cause them to discount nurse's advice and information. So, model good communication skills with older adults. Ask older adults how they would like to be addressed, e.g. first or last name. Unless you have been specifically told otherwise, greet them by their last name. Use respectful language and common courtesies; be aware of culture driven ways to communicate, including eye contact, touching, and appropriate language of address. Talk to older people directly. Sometimes, using humor can help "break the ice" achieve common ground.