Abstract
In response to the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics' global
agenda for clinical research and quality of care in long-term care homes (LTCHs),
the International Consortium on Professional Nursing Practice in Long Term Care Homes
(the Consortium) was formed to develop nursing leadership capacity and address the
concerns regarding the current state of professional nursing practice in LTCHs. At
its invitational, 2-day inaugural meeting, the Consortium brought together international
nurse experts to explore the potential of registered nurses (RNs) who work as supervisors
or charge nurses within the LTCHs and the value of their contribution in nursing homes,
consider what RN competencies might be needed, discuss effective educational (curriculum
and practice) experiences, health care policy, and human resources planning requirements,
and to identify what sustainable nurse leadership strategies and models might enhance
the effectiveness of RNs in improving resident, family, and staff outcomes. The Consortium
made recommendations about the following priority issues for action: (1) define the
competencies of RNs required to care for older adults in LTCHs; (2) create an LTCH
environment in which the RN role is differentiated from other team members and RNs
can practice to their full scope; and (3) prepare RN leaders to operate effectively
in person-centered care LTCH environments. In addition to clear recommendations for
practice, the Consortium identified several areas in which further research is needed.
The Consortium advocated for a research agenda that emphasizes an international coordination
of research efforts to explore similar issues, the pursuit of examining the impact
of nursing and organizational models, and the showcasing of excellence in nursing
practice in care homes, so that others might learn from what works. Several studies
already under way are also described.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 17, 2015
Footnotes
The authors declare no conflicts of interest.
Funding for this manuscript and the meeting was provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care (grant 06426).
Identification
Copyright
© 2016 AMDA – The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
