In January 2008 the John A. Hartford Foundation awarded the American Academy of Nursing and the Universities of Arkansas, Iowa, and Pennsylvania a four year collaborative project to enhance the cognitive and mental health of older Americans.

The Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative (GPNC) is designed to help improve the education of nurses for the care of elders suffering depression, dementia and other mental health disorders. The collaborative effort will enhance extant competencies for all levels of nursing education, focusing them on older adults with mental health/illness concerns. The competency statements together with curriculum materials developed for basic, graduate, post-graduate, and continuing education nursing programs will be shared via this website beginning mid to late 2009.

GPNC Goals and Activities
Background and Resources

GPNC National Advisory Panel
GPNC Core Competency Work Group

Principal Investigators
Cornelia K. Beck, PhD, RN, FAAN
Louise Hearn Chair in Dementia and Long-term Care
Professor, College of Medicine and College of Nursing
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

Kathleen C. Buckwalter, PhD, RN, FAAN
Sally Mathis Hartwig Professor of Gerontological Nursing Research
Director, John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence
University of Iowa

Lois K. Evans, PhD, RN, FAAN
Van Ameringen Professor in Nursing Excellence
Associate Director, John A. Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence
University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing

For more information contact:
Susan Hayes
Project Coordinator, Geropsychiatric Nursing Collaborative
American Academy of Nursing
shayes@aannet.org