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The NICHE Program to Prepare the Workforce to Address the Needs of Older Patients

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Geriatrics Models of Care

Abstract

NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders) is the only national nurse-driven program designed to assist healthcare organizations in improving the care of older adults across the care continuum. The exponential growth of the older adult population over the last three decades created the need for specialized nursing care that addresses the unique needs of this population. Originally created over 30 years ago as a small pilot of nurses trained in geriatrics, the program is now implemented in over 550 care settings in 40 states as well as Canada, Bermuda, Singapore, and Mexico. The program can be tailored to each facilities’ unique infrastructure, educational, and clinical needs by providing tools to implement and sustain geriatric sensitive care. NICHE sites improve care by creating organizational structures that address workplace needs, promote leadership skills in nursing staff, geriatric staff competence and interdisciplinary processes, patient- and family-centered approaches in an environment that is safe for older adults and focused on improving quality of care. Appropriate for any healthcare setting, the NICHE program promotes nursing practice that provides evidenced-based, patient- and family-centered care in an environment that welcomes change and is dedicated to improving the care of the older adults.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. NICHE Nurses Improving Care of Healthsystem Elders, NYU College of Nursing, 726 Broadway, New York, NY, 10003, USA

    Linda Bub M.S.N., R.N.

  2. Connell School of Nursing, Boston College, 140 Commonwealth Avenue, Chestnut Hill, MA, 02467, USA

    Marie Boltz Ph.D., C.R.N.P., F.A.A.N.

  3. Department of Senior Services, Aurora Health Care, 945 North 12th Street, OHC-4037, Milwaukee, WI, 53233, USA

    Aaron Malsch M.S.N., R.N.

  4. Riverside Health System, Newport News, VA, 23601, USA

    Kathleen Fletcher R.N., D.N.P.-B.C.

Authors
  1. Linda Bub M.S.N., R.N.
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  2. Marie Boltz Ph.D., C.R.N.P., F.A.A.N.
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  3. Aaron Malsch M.S.N., R.N.
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  4. Kathleen Fletcher R.N., D.N.P.-B.C.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Bub M.S.N., R.N. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Senior Services – Aurora Health Care, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine & Public Health, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

    Michael L. Malone

  2. Hunter-Bellevue School of Nursing, Hunter College of the City University of New York, New York, New York, USA

    Elizabeth A. Capezuti

  3. Eastern Virginia Medical School, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Robert M. Palmer

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Bub, L., Boltz, M., Malsch, A., Fletcher, K. (2015). The NICHE Program to Prepare the Workforce to Address the Needs of Older Patients. In: Malone, M., Capezuti, E., Palmer, R. (eds) Geriatrics Models of Care. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16068-9_5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16068-9_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-16067-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-16068-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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