Nurse Practitioners as Primary Educators for Medical Trainees in Geriatric Medicine

Nurse practitioners (NPs) are contributing a great deal to the educational workforce in geriatric medicine. As the number of trained geriatricians lags, the role of NPs in preparing physicians to provide optimal care for older patients becomes more apparent. To properly capitalize on the clinical expertise and educational skills of NPs, it is necessary to create opportunities in which they will have the greatest potential to teach and role model for trainees in geriatrics. This article reviews the importance of NPs in geriatric medical education for the full spectrum of medical trainees and describes steps that can be followed to ensure success.