Brenda Strafford Centre for Excellence in Gerontological Nursing

Message from the Director

As the Director, I welcome you to the Brenda Strafford Centre for Excellence in Gerontological Nursing (BSC)! Preparing nurses to meet the age specific health needs of older adults is mandated by demographic changes in Alberta and Canada. This has implications for both the education of students and the support of faculty members as they assume responsibility for ensuring gerontological nursing content is taught to students. The Centre was established in part to address this need. The Centre was also established to support professional nursing practice.

There are a number of underlying assumptions that guide the work of the BSC:

• Building capacity is a core thread that underlies all activities of the BSC;
• Selected partnerships will support and enhance the work of the BSC;
• Attitudes towards older adults and gerontological nursing practice shape career choices for graduates; and
• Gerontological education and research guide nursing practice.

Dr. Sandra Hirst RN, PhD, GNC(C)