Interdisciplinary Research Training

As discussed in Program Structure, an important component of the BAGNC is building interdisciplinary research skills among geriatric nurse researchers. Such skills help in the understanding of aging and improvement of health care for elders. The following BAGNC collaborations focus on enhancing interdisciplinary research skills.

National Institute on Aging

Each year for the past 20 years the National Institute on Aging has held a summer conference on research methods - National Institute on Aging (NIA) Summer Institute on Aging Research - for emerging researchers, including those who may have had limited involvement in research on aging. A nursing preconference has been held since 2005. It is a collaborative effort to enhance nurse researchers' capacity to design and conduct clinical research in aging with human participants.

Since 2005 a total of 35 nurses participated in the Summer Institute. Nurse participants were extremely positive about what they had learned as well as the nature and organization of the conference.

Gerontological Society of America

As part of the Hartford Faculty Scholars Program in Geriatric Social Work, a Leadership Institute is held in the fall of each year. Intended outcomes of the Institute include: stronger understanding of the connections between research, academic, practice, and policy arenas; recognition of the value of building relationships with congressional staff/elected officials before they are needed; enhanced understanding of the full extent of the advocacy opportunities; development of practical advocacy skills; and ideas for future growth/learning opportunities.

Participation of nurse researchers in the Social Work Leadership Institute has the potential to forge interdisciplinary collaborations in policy research in areas of common interest. Examples might be service reimbursement for persons with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers; and policies governing reimbursement for transitional care which falls in the domains of both nursing and social work.