'Making a Connection': BSN Students' Perceptions of Their Reminiscence Experiences with Older Adults

The projected increase in the diversity of the older adult population in the United States has generated a demand for nurses prepared to care for older adults from different cultural backgrounds. Nurse educators are challenged to develop innovative experiences to help prepare students who are competent in gerontological nursing and sensitive to cultural differences. The purpose of this study was to examine baccalaureate nursing students’ perceptions of their reminiscence experiences with older adults. Forty-one nursing students who participated in a reminiscence education program during their clinical practicum completed an open-ended questionnaire. Data were analyzed, and three major themes emerged: “Making a Connection,” “Seeing the World Through Their Eyes,” and “Benefits of Reminiscence.” Results indicate that implementing reminiscence education programs in clinical experiences can help students develop gerontological nursing skills, increase their cultural sensitivity, and improve their care of older adults. AUTHOR Received: January 25, 2005 Accepted: June 30, 2005 Dr. Shellman is Assistant Professor and John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Fellow, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut. The author acknowledges partial funding from Sigma Theta Tau, Mu Chapter. The author also thanks the University of Connecticut School of Nursing Class of 2002 for their participation in this study. Address correspondence to Juliette Shellman, PhD, APRN-BC, Assistant Professor and John A. Hartford Foundation Building Academic Geriatric Nursing Capacity Fellow, Yale University School of Nursing, 100 Church Street South, PO Box 9740, New Haven, CT 06536; e-mail: juliette.shellman@yale.edu.