Caring for The Older Adult Client.docx - 1 Caring for The Older Adult Client Valerie Youngblood Nightingale College Gerontological Nursing BSN

1Caring for The Older Adult ClientValerie YoungbloodNightingale CollegeGerontological Nursing BSN 425-01Linda Flynn, DNP, RN, CNE04/16/2023

2Caring for The Older Adult ClientThere is a myth that aging means declining health. Gerontological nursing is a sub-specialty in nursing that works to optimize health through the aging process. The practice ofgerontological nursing, which is evidence-based, focuses on the distinct physiological, social,psychological, developmental, economic, cultural, spiritual, and advocacy needs of older persons(American Nurse, 2019). During the education of this sub-specialty, eight objectives wereexplored. This paper will cover the concepts that help achieve these objectives and how they canbe incorporated in future gerontological care.Patient Centered Care of The Older Adult PopulationNurses use their leadership abilities to plan, manage, and support patient care. Patientcentered care is the concept that care should be approached in a way that is individual to thepatient’s preferences, needs, and abilities (Giddens, 2021). It allows for exploration intoindividual capabilities and conditions that can contribute to optimizing health in these olderadults. This type of care involves partnering with the patient and their family in every aspect ofcare and guides all clinical decisions. When working closely with patients and their families it isimportant to also be culturally aware.Cultural competence in patient care includes integration and understanding of theindividual’s health beliefs (Giddens, 2021). These are important to incorporate when providingpatient education, encouraging self-efficacy, and reinforcing coping resources. It is alsoimportant to be culturally competent to avoid unconscious biases that could potentially causehealth disparities. Cultural competency issues go beyond race and ethnicity. Ageism is also anelement associated with it. The delivery of care for elderly individuals is often hampered by the

3perceiving combination of disability, cognitive decline, and chronic diseases, which arefrequently seen as frailty.Patient centered care is closely aligned with cultural competency. When providing anindividualized care plan, the patient’s culture will directly influence treatment plans. In addition,certain lifestyles, ages, and ethnicities bring about different conditions within the population.When taking these into consideration, I feel the nurse must exercise leadership when planningwith the interdisciplinary team. Often, as a nurse you will have the best insight into patient needsand preferences.Intentional Learning in Caring for The Older Adult ClientLearning that is goal-centered and motivated by clear objectives is known as intentionallearning (Mollman & Candela, 2018). Higher level thinking processes and the capacity to applyknowledge in new situations have both been associated with it. Intentional learning is done byboth the nurse provider and the older adult client. Gerontological patients have unique needs, andthe nurse must establish a goal in learning these needs in order to provide adequate and effectivecare. Patients must use intentional learning when education is provided regarding current, new,or changing conditions.