Changes in nursing students' perceptions of and preferences for working with the elderly population after completion of a bachelor's program in nursing science were examined. Students (N = 45) officially entered the nursing program in the first semester of their junior year. The curriculum involved a wide range of clinical experiences and geriatric information. In a pre‐/ post‐test design, the Perceptions of Aging and Elderly Inventory (PAEI) and the Elderly Patient Care Inventory (EPCI) were used to measure program impact. A paired t test of pre‐ and post‐test scores on the PAEI, revealed significant positive attitudinal changes, t (44) = 4.71, p < .01. Students also reported more favorable impressions toward patient care for the elderly, as measured by the EPCI, t (44) = 4.20, p < .01. Qualitative statements by the students provide a better understanding why some prospective nursing students choose to work with geriatric patients whereas others resist.
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Aday et al. (1995) studied this question.
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