Mexico's Institute of Geriatrics Engages NICHE for Geriatric Nursing Capacity Assessment

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Jan 15, 2015, 03:49 ET

NEW YORK, Jan. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Mexico's Instituto Nacional De Geriatria (INGER), also known as the Institute of Geriatrics, announces the selection of NICHE (Nurses Improving Care for Healthsystem Elders), based at the NYU College of Nursing located here, to handle geriatric nursing capacity assessment of five Mexican hospitals.

The goal of the NICHE assessment initiative in Mexico is to enhance geriatric patient outcomes by providing tools and guidance for improving geriatric nursing. Strengthening human, technical, and organizational capital through collaboration between INGER and NICHE is at the core of this effort. The NICHE-Mexico initiative aligns with the mission of INGER. INGER was established by presidential decree in 2008 to research age-related diseases and their treatment, improve the care of the older adults, and train specialized staff.

Last year, a team from NICHE and New York University College of Nursing conducted needs assessments at the Mexican hospitals to determine the feasibility of implementing the NICHE model in Mexico. The hospitals later began to measure staff knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions in the care of older adult patients using the NICHE Geriatric Institutional Assessment Profile (GIAP) survey tool.

NICHE is the leading nurse-driven program designed to help healthcare organizations improve the care of older adults. It is a core component of NYU Nursing's global strategy.

According to an official Mexican census, there are currently 11.7 million people over 60 years of age and by 2040 one of every four Mexicans will be in this age group. The aging populations in Mexico have dramatically increased the need to build the capacity for education and research on healthy aging and care of older adults. The NICHE program has successfully contributed to geriatric capacity building efforts for over 580 hospitals and other healthcare organizations in the U.S., Canada, Bermuda and Singapore.

"One key finding from the preliminary NICHE-Mexico assessment showed consistency in nurse interest and demand for geriatric focused education," says NICHE Executive Director Barbara Bricoli. "The NICHE program emphasizes the important role that nurses play in improving care quality and helping bedside nurses become change agents and clinician leaders."

For more information, visit nicheprogram.org.

Contact: Scott Bugg
215-527-9351
mailto:[email protected]

SOURCE NICHE