Incorporating gerontological content in the nursing curriculum. The case of AUB School of Nursing.

In Lebanon, the proportion of older adults (over 65 years) is on the rise. This rise is associated with increased morbidity rates and the need for age-specific medical and nursing care. The number of nurses specializing in geriatric care remains very small despite the increased need for this specialty. The nursing curriculum at the Hariri School of Nursing at the American University of Beirut (AUB) has integrated gerontological content in both undergraduate and graduate programs as an essential step to prepare future nurses for the care of the growing population of older adults and consequently to support the health care system. In line with the essential competencies proposed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the school of nursing at AUB is preparing entry level and advanced practice nurses to care for the geriatric population. Furthermore, developing specialists in the field of gerontology and launching an interdisciplinary graduate program on 'Care of the Older Adult' is more and more becoming a desired development for the future.