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CWRU's Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing has received grants
totaling more than $920,000 to strengthen and expand its courses
in gerontology and geriatric nurse education.
"We are very gratified to receive these grants," said Beverly
Roberts, professor and associate dean of academic programs at
the Bolton School. "They are a recognition of the strength of
our programs in gerontology and geriatric education and will enable
us to expand knowledge of issues relating to the health needs
of the elderly."
The Bolton School's Geriatric Nurse Practitioner Program is ranked
10th best among gerontological programs by U.S. News and World
Report.
The school was awarded $500,000 from the William Randolph Hearst
Foundation and approximately $420,000 from The John A. Hartford
Foundation in New York City. Roberts said the grants are part
of larger efforts by both foundations to increase the number of
geriatric practitioners and educators in the field of geriatrics.
"The 65 and older cohort is the fastest-growing portion of the
country's population," Roberts said. "These funders have recognized
the importance of increasing the number of geriatric caregivers
in order to accommodate the needs of that population, both now
and in the future."
The number of older Americans is expected to grow significantly
in the coming decades as the baby boom generation ages. According
to U.S. Census Bureau data, approximately 35 million Americans
were age 65 or older in 2000. That number is expected to swell
to about 54 million by 2020 and 70 million by 2030. Nursing specialists
are needed to meet current and future needs of this population.
Funds from the Hearst Foundation will be used to establish the
William Randolph Hearst Endowed Scholarship for Geriatric Nurse
Practitioners (GNP).
"This grant is especially meaningful since the Hearst Foundation
sought us out because of our strength in gerontology," Roberts
said. "After talking to about a dozen schools, we were one of
only five to receive a grant from them."
Interest from the endowment will be used for tuition support
for two GNP students each year. Students will be able to apply
for the support with their initial application to the Bolton School
or after they are accepted.
"We want to see a strong commitment to helping the elderly in
the community," Roberts said. The Hartford Foundation grants are
for three, three-year programs.
The Hartford Investment Program, funded at $225,000 is designed
to add and expand geriatric content in the Bolton School's curriculum
and to promote scholarship and leadership in geriatric nursing.
The Hartford Geriatric Nursing Education program, funded at
$90,000, will be used to increase the geriatric mental health
content in the GNP program by adding two courses and expanding
the GNP program to prepare students for a blended role as a GNP
and gerontological Clinical Nurse Specialist.
The Hartford Creating Careers in Geriatric Advanced Practice,
funded at $105,609 and matched one to one by Bolton School funds,
will be used to provide scholarship support for 11 students in
the geriatric nurse practitioner and gerontological clinical nurse
specialist programs. A second goal is to develop the students'
leadership abilities through a Leadership Mentoring Program and
Geriatric Nursing Quality Scholars Program. The mentoring program
will match a geriatric nursing leader in Greater Cleveland with
a geriatric advanced practice nursing student.
The Quality Scholars program will involve geriatric advanced
practice nursing students in a citywide program providing health
professionals with continuous quality improvement techniques.
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