Geriatric Trauma Committee

Committee Chair
Katherine Bendickson, BSN, RN

Committee Description/Charge

The purpose of the STN Geriatric Committee is to identify, develop, and promote best practices in geriatric trauma nursing care. The Committee will seek opportunities to collaborate to ensure optimal and equitable trauma care for older adults throughout the continuum of care and throughout the world.

Committee Duties/Responsibilities

• Develop the STN Geriatric Committee agenda, goals, and objectives with direction and approval from the STN Board of Directors.
• Seek out and promote opportunities for geriatric trauma nursing projects and opportunities for nurse input and participation, globally.
• Develop, review, and revise clinical guidelines and best practices related to geriatric trauma nursing on behalf of STN and its members.
• Plan, develop, and oversee STN-sponsored clinical education and training related to trauma nursing care for older adults.
• Collaborate with other STN committees and other interdisciplinary organizations as needed to plan and execute deliverables that advance geriatric trauma nursing care.
• Analyze, prepare, and disseminate information related to trauma nursing care for older adults to other STN committees and STN members for the purpose of advancing STN’s mission and member-driven initiatives.
• Provide reports and recommendations to the STN Board of Directors quarterly and as requested.
• Participate in virtual monthly committee teleconferences and perform other tasks as assigned by the STN Board of Directors.

Appointment and Term of Service

• STN Geriatric Committee members will be appointed to serve for two years with the opportunity for reappointment to a second two-year term.

Requirements to Serve

Service is open to Active or Associate STN members in good standing, who meet the following criteria:

• Desire to invest time, talent, and energy to advance committee objectives to promote optimal and equitable trauma care for older adults across the continuum of care and across the globe.
• Availability for a one-hour monthly teleconference and the ability to allocate up to an additional three (3) hours each month to complete assigned volunteer tasks.

Application/Submission Requirements

• Volunteer interest form
• CV or biosketch
• Two professional references

In the United States, trauma ranks as the fifth leading cause of death among elderly patients, making it a critical area of concern in the healthcare system. This issue is particularly pronounced in individuals aged 65 and older, where trauma significantly contributes to mortality rates. As the geriatric population continues to grow, trauma centers across the country are recognizing the urgent need to refine their care delivery models to better serve this unique demographic.

To address these challenges, the Society of Trauma Nurses has partnered with the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing to develop comprehensive resources aimed at enhancing the care provided to older adults experiencing trauma. This collaboration is made possible through a generous grant awarded to the Society of Trauma Nurses by the Hartford Institute for Geriatric Nursing at New York University College of Nursing. This initiative is part of a broader effort known as REASN (Resourcefully Enhancing Aging in Specialty Nursing), which focuses on improving nursing practices and patient outcomes for aging populations.

As healthcare providers prepare to meet these challenges, the resources developed through this collaboration will play a vital role in equipping clinicians with the knowledge and tools necessary to deliver optimal care to older adults facing traumatic injuries. This proactive approach not only aims to improve health outcomes but also emphasizes the importance of understanding the unique needs and complexities of geriatric trauma patients.

Guidelines

The demographic landscape is shifting dramatically. By the year 2030, all baby boomers will have reached the age of 65 or older, resulting in nearly one in five residents in the United States falling into this age category. Projections indicate that this population segment will expand to an astonishing 88.5 million individuals by 2050, more than doubling the 2008 figures of 38.7 million. Furthermore, the population aged 85 and older is expected to see even more significant growth, anticipated to rise from 5.4 million in 2008 to 19 million by 2050. These statistics, provided by the U.S. Census Bureau's 2008 National Population Projections, underscore the urgent need for tailored trauma care strategies that can meet the evolving demands of an aging society.

Action Plan

Indication:
The older adult population is growing exponentially, and the care of these patients should be specialized. The Society of Trauma Nurses will be recognized as a leader in the trauma treatment of the Geriatric patient through a collaborative national and international exchange of ideas that will spawn new practices and education for an optimal outcome of the traumatically injured geriatric patient. This committee will also take into consideration the patient’s personal views, goals of care, independence, and encourage a strong family/support involvement in care.

Strategy:
STN will be a resource to ensure every traumatically injured older patient receives high-quality, cooperative, multidisciplinary, person-centered care through a collaborative national and international exchange of ideas.

Items:

1. Creation of up-to-date, accessible geriatric trauma nursing educational material and best practice guidelines.
2. Promoting writing and publication opportunities for nursing staff interested in geriatric care
3. Join the national conversation regarding trauma care for older adults by collaborating with other national and international specialists.
4. Improve outcome of traumatically injured older adults while respecting their individual goals of care and personal views, free of ageism.
5. Data gathering and analyses in the vulnerable geriatric population.
6. Acknowledge the ability of the older person to contribute to society while maintaining their health, safety, and independence as they age.
7. Maintain active participation within committee and/or maintain at least 50% of meetings.

It takes a work of HEART:
We welcome and seek an environment that is inclusive of all and encourage active participation.

Honesty: Honesty, trust, fairness, hard work, and ethics are the true core of every decision we make and every interaction we have. We will be clear about individual and collective successes and failures, without a sense of defaming one another.

Excellence: We encourage a relentless pursuit for improvement and excellence with zero tolerance for mediocrity, while anticipating and preparing for future challenges, not just those of today. We understand and believe our success is dependent on the performance of our committee. We will strive for only the best outcomes for our traumatically injured older adult population while maintaining their personal goals and values.

Accountability: Individually and collaboratively, we take responsibility for our decisions and actions, and for achieving our goals. We encourage individuals to take ownership of tasks, no matter how menial those tasks may be. We do not lack courage in appropriately voicing our opinions for decisions, whether large or seemingly insignificant, and take appropriate positive action when something appears wrong.

Respect: We demonstrate respect for each other, healthcare professionals, as well the as geriatric patients we are representing. We are guided by our continuous commitment to treating others as we want to be treated. We value and benefit from obtaining the opinions of a diverse group of professionals on each task at hand.

Teamwork: Our working culture supports, encourages, and regularly requires teamwork, cooperation, and honest and timely communication to provide quality results of the highest caliber. We support each other to advance the entire STN organization and provide superior services or solutions to our geriatric patient population in every aspect collectively and collaboratively. We consider our flexibility to new ideas, views, and innovative approaches to problem solving as a committee a key to our continued success.