The Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative experience in geriatric nursing education: looking back, looking forward

This article traces the impact of the John A. Hartford Foundation’s (JAHF) Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI) on the geriatric preparation of nursing students. With over 2.6 million practitioners, nurses play a critical role in assuring the health care of older adults. Older adults make up the majority of patient days in hospitals, home care, and nursing homes. Yet, when the JAHF began its investment in geriatric nursing, specific content on care of older adults was woefully absent in academic programs preparing entry- and graduate-level nurses. Clearly, the JAHF HGNI investment in nursing education has paid huge dividends. Baccalaureate nursing students are now likely to graduate with competencies in care of older adults. In the next 5 years, ongoing JAHF HGNI initiatives should yield similar outcomes in associate degree-prepared graduates and in advanced practice registered nurse graduates. This article traces the impact of the JAHF HGNI on nursing education.     

Maintaining health in well older adults: initiatives for schools of nursing and The John A. Hartford Foundation for the 21st century

In the past century, there has been a substantial increase in the number of older Americans and an increase in their life expectancy at birth. These trends will continue over the next century, marked by further increases in active life expectancy and marked changes in the racial and ethnic composition of the older population. While nursing has traditionally focused on the care of frail older individuals, most older adults--well older adults--enjoy a relatively high level of health and function. In this article, well older adults are defined as those with the physical, mental, social, and spiritual function or resources to meet the needs of everyday living. Recommendations for improving care of well older adults are provided, including reconceptualizing ways of thinking, expanding practice initiatives, building the science of nursing research in geriatrics and gerontology, developing education and training opportunities, and rethinking individual safety within the context of autonomy.     

Clustering excellence to exert transformative change: the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI)

This paper describes how the John A. Hartford Foundation sought to maximize the influence of its various geriatric nursing projects by organizing and managing them collectively as the Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative (HGNI). This initiative aimed to develop a shared identity, encouraged cross-pollination of efforts, convened project leaders to address opportunities and problems, launched across-project collaborations, and created tools and resources to support overall efforts. This paper ends with some reflections on the processes implemented to maximize HGNI effectiveness, particularly the importance of forging a common identity in order to encourage expanded solutions. The HGNI can serve as an example of how intersecting interests can fuel new ideas, thus helping others think more strategically about change efforts in the future.     

The Hartford Geriatric Nursing Initiative: developing a focused strategy and strong partnerships to improve nursing care for older adults

This article traces the funding priorities of the John A. Hartford Foundation—the largest private philanthropy in the United States dedicated to aging and health—to increase the competence of the health care workforce (physicians, nurses, and social workers) to care for our aging society. A review of the Foundation's 15-year and over $70 million investment in geriatric nursing is presented with emphasis on 2 critical factors—a focused strategy and strong partnerships—to build the nation's nursing capacity to meet the health care needs of older Americans. The evolution of Hartford's strategic goal to ensure that all nurses are skilled to care for older adults is shared to illustrate why the Foundation now funds nursing efforts in the primary areas of faculty development and curricular change. This article also underscores the importance of establishing a network of diverse partnerships and collaborations to maximize impact and create synergies.