April's Issue of Science of Caring

April, 2014
View this email in your browser

Friends & Colleagues, 


Phrases like “aging America” and “aging baby boomers” have become clichés, but for a health care system in flux – and particularly for the nurses who deliver the bulk of care to the elderly – such phrases retain enormous power. If we can prepare the next generation of providers to deliver the best possible care to our older adults, we will look back with pride on an enormous accomplishment in the face of difficult odds. If we fail, the costs to society could be devastating.

This issue of Science of Caring takes a look at some of the remarkable work being done here at UC San Francisco School of Nursing, as well as around the country.
  • Our lead story is a conversation with renowned geriatrician John W. Rowe at our recent conference on “Innovations in Geriatric Nursing Care.” Among other things, Dr. Rowe challenged nursing to seize this moment. A second storycovers the rest of this insightful, daylong conference.
  • We take a look at an effort here to help policymakers make the decisions that will ensure we have an adequate health care workforce in place to meet the needs of older adults.
  • Finally, we look at how to address the difficult challenge of reducing the more than 8 million adverse events that occur in nursing homes each year.
Please remember that at its best, Science of Caring is a conversation and we encourage comments. Additionally, if you have story ideas, questions, or concerns don't hesitate to contact our editor, Andrew Schwartz

David Vlahov, RN, PhD, FAAN
Dean & Professor of Nursing Education
UCSF School of Nursing