Background
By 2050, the number of older people is expected to increase by 70%, meaning Europe is facing a growing demand for qualified nurses in gerontological nursing. Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) is essential for providing effective care to older adults, helping assess medical, mental, and social needs. This improves outcomes like reducing hospital stays and mortality.
Despite the importance of these skills, CGA is not widely taught among nurses, as it has long been thought that the assessment should be done by geriatrics specialists. Instead, nurses learn CGA skills on their own while working, as they’ve realized how useful and important CGA is to be able to provide proper provision of care.
The Big Picture project addresses this urgent need for CGA skills by developing a new curriculum for professional nurses. The curriculum aims to close the skills gap in geriatrics and will be offered in the form of continuing and life learning education courses, possible to be integrated into universities’, higher education institutions’, and vocational education and training institutions’ degree programmes.
By using digital tools like 3D simulations and blended learning, the curriculum enhances digital competencies and makes training accessible, especially for those in rural areas. The project also supports lifelong learning, fosters entrepreneurship by encouraging nurses to engage in homecare service provision, and promotes green and digital transitions.
In the short term, Big Picture will address the immediate need for upskilling professional nurses. In the medium and long term, the project aims to reduce the nursing skills shortage across the EU, aligning with EU policies like the new European Skills Agenda and Digital Education Action Plan. By focusing on the upskilling and reskilling of current and future nurses, the project will improve geriatric care and boost the EU’s healthcare system’s sustainability.
The project is funded by the European Union and behind the making of the project, are participants from six partner countries – Finland (and the region Åland Islands), Iceland, Latvia, Estonia, Denmark and Greece.