Major Article
Merle E. Mast, PhD, RN; Erika Metzler Sawin, PhD, RN; Kathleen Anne Pantaleo, BA
- Journal of Nursing Education
- July 2012 - Volume 51 · Issue 7: 396-402
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DOI: 10.3928/01484834-20120427-02
Abstract
The number of older adults with caregiving needs is rapidly escalating, and the majority of these adults are cared for at home by unpaid family members. Nurse educators must better prepare nurse graduates to meet the needs of this population, as well as to include family caregivers as part of the health care team. This article describes the design, implementation, and preliminary outcomes of a unique learning experience, the Life of a Caregiver Simulation, which uses narrative pedagogy to increase students’ awareness and understanding of the needs of older adults, their family caregivers, and the community services they use. Subjective data from students (N = 25) indicated the simulation served as an effective catalyst for students to experience first-hand and understand the stress and burdens of caregiving.
AUTHORS
Dr. Mast is Professor, and Dr. Sawin is Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, James Madison University; and Ms. Pantaleo is Program Director, Caregivers Community Network, Harrisonburg, Virginia.
This work was supported by the Commonwealth of Virginia Geriatric Training and Education Award Fund. The authors thank Lynda Markut, Workplace Education Coordinator, Alzheimer’s Association of Southeast Wisconsin, for her assistance with the project.
The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Address correspondence to Merle E. Mast, PhD, RN, Professor, Department of Nursing, James Madison University, MSC 4305, 801 Carrier Drive, Harrisonburg, VA 22807; e-mail: .mastme@jmu.edu
doi: 10.3928/01484834-20120427-02