complete issue - School of Nursing - University of Pittsburgh

centering offerings within the existinggraduate program in gerontology.“Because of differences in educationalmodels between physicians andother disciplines, I believe we wouldn’thave even considered this if a nursehadn’t taken a leadership role in thedesign of the AzGEC,” Phillips says.AzGEC offers an online, sevencredit-hourcertificate designed to appealto practicing health professionals andgraduate students. These credits can beapplied to a graduate degree in gerontologyor to other disciplines.As the AzGEC project passesmidpoint, outcomes include three newthree-credit courses for all health professionals,as well as three-credit disciplinarycourses in public health, nursing, socialwork, medicine, and nutrition. Thecenter has also sponsored a three-credithouroverview course on aging and athree-credit-hour disciplinary coursein pharmacy.Phillips enthusiastically reports thatmore than 20 graduate students haveearned 15-credit-hour certificates andmore than 30 students have enrolled inthe 15-hour certificate program.“Our greatest accomplishment isthat we’ve had no students stop with aseven-credit-hour certification. All havechosen to complete the 15-credit-hourcertificate,” she says.AzGEC also works to enhanceeducation among Native Americans andMexican Americans. Faculty from thecenter conduct a monthly radio programon aging on the Hopi reservation, andprograms on dementia are offered tothose elders living at the Mexican-American border.Phillips’ own research focuses onfamily caregiving for frail elders and thequality of care families provide withinthe context of turbulent or difficultfamily dynamics.“My research has contributed to abetter understanding about factors thatinfluence the quality of care provided byfamilies and the interpersonal factors infamilies that contribute to poor qualityof care and elder abuse,” Phillips says.According to Phillips, the goal ofhealthcare providers is to assist eldersto live well with multiple chronicconditions through excellent medicalmanagement. However, that goal can’tbe attained by focusing attention onlyon teaching elders more about theirdiseases and disease management. It’smuch broader than that. Families andfamily caregivers also must be consideredbecause they provide the bulk of the carefor frail elders.“I love this work,” Phillips says.“There are not enough hours in the dayto do all of what needs to be done, butI believe we are raising awareness of thechallenges and stimulating health professionalsto think about these issues as theyplan care with and for elders.”“My research has contributedto a better understandingabout factors that influencethe quality of care providedby families.”p i t t N u r s e w i n t e r 2 0 0 6 35