Instrument Evaluation: Attitudes Toward Older Adults and Intent to Work in Geriatrics.

ABSTRACT: Despite the increasing demand for nurses in geriatrics, interest lags in working with older adults. The Carolina Opinions on the Care of Older Adults instrument assesses attitudes toward older adults, with one subscale assessing intention to work with older adults. The instrument was used in a pretest/posttest study with prelicensure students enrolled in a gerontological nursing course. Posttest scores showed an improvement in attitudes toward older adults. The geriatric career choice subscale showed no pretest/posttest changes. The Carolina Opinions on the Care of Older Adults instrument is a suitable measure to assess changes in attitudes and intention to work with older adults.