NGNA Core Curriculum for Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses

Written and compiled by gerontologic nursing leaders, the NGNA Core Curriculum for Gerontological Advanced Practice Nurses provides a broad overview of advanced elder care nursing.

In easy-to-scan outline form, the book presents not only a thorough coverage of practice and illness management but also a wide range of professional information.

Marquis D. Foreman

This book is said to ""encompass all of the knowledge that currently is ascribed to advanced practice gerontological nurses."" (Geriatric Nurse Practitioners and Geriatric Clinical Nurse Specialists) It was written under the auspices of the National Gerontological Nursing Association (NGNA) for the purpose of assisting individuals in preparing for the geriatric certification examination, for renewal of certification, or as a resource for general geriatric nursing practice. Nurses preparing for the ANCC Certification Examination for the gerontological nurse practitioner or clinical specialist in gerontological nursing are the targeted audience. Additionally, the editors indicate that they view it as a general practice resource. This book is organized into 12 sections and 122 chapters. Each chapter is structured similarly: learning objectives; outlined content; study questions with answers; references; and suggested readings. The content ranges from theory to pragmatic clinical management guidelines. This gerontological nursing reference could have been an excellent resource for advanced practice nurses, faculty and students in advanced practice programs, and health care administrators; however, in attempting to encompass all of the knowledge that currently is ascribed to advanced practice gerontological nurses, it is superficial. For example, although one chapter is entitled ""Dementia: Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, Delirium, Confusion, and Wandering,"" it focuses exclusively on dementia and contains no content on cognitive impairment, delirium, or confusion. Although a variety of mental status instruments are identified, no means of accessing those tools is provided. Anexcellent but brief listing of a variety of approaches for behavioral problems associated with dementia is ineffective, because they are so inadequately described that there is insufficient detail for implementing these strategies, and no means for accessing additional information is provided.

Luggen, Ann Schmidt (Northern Kentucky Univ); Travis, Shirley S. (Univ of Oklahoma); Meiner , Sue