Cultivating interest in gerontological nursing among nursing students: evaluation of an educational initiative

Interest in gerontological nursing among nursing students remains low, with few choosing to work in this specialty on registration. The Master of Nursing (MNurs) preregistration programme at King's College London, England, includes a module that incorporates a gerontological nursing theme which aims to enhance students' teaching, learning and clinical placement experiences, as well as their attitudes towards gerontological nursing as a career option. This article details an evaluation that aimed to understand students' attitudes towards working with older adults and pursuing a career in gerontological nursing following completion of the gerontological nursing theme. Two focus groups were held with 18 students, and the data were thematically analysed. Overall, the findings suggest that targeted educational initiatives can strengthen students' engagement with gerontological nursing and foster more positive attitudes towards this field of practice. Nurse education leaders should prioritise the integration of gerontological content into preregistration curricula and support students to consider gerontological nursing as a valued and viable career pathway.