Facilitated Learning to Advance Geriatrics (FLAG) Program

The Facilitated Learning to Advance Geriatrics (FLAG, formerly Faculty Learning About Geriatrics) program is a nationally recognized nursing educator development program designed for faculty in schools of nursing (associate and higher degree programs) and advanced practice nurses who want to develop expertise and leadership skills in geriatric nursing education.

The FLAG program was developed by nursing faculty at the University of Minnesota Hartford Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence to help nurse educators infuse the latest geriatric content into their curricula, learn new ways of engaging with geriatric content in the classroom, and to brainstorm, through mentoring and networking sessions, ways to take a leadership role by bringing change to the nursing program at one’s home institution.

The FLAG Program Includes:

• Three-day FLAG Institute in one of seven regions
  
• Year-long mentorship
• Access to geriatric nursing teaching resources
• Access to a network of geriatric nursing experts

Professional Development Outcomes:

• Increased knowledge in four content areas: nursing care of older adults, teaching/learning strategies for improved classroom effectiveness, leadership and gero-informatics
• Increased capacity to use diverse resources for teaching geriatric nursing
• Leadership in geriatric nursing at one's home institution by implementing a nursing education change project
• Individual support of FLAG goals through professional networks
• The ability to speak to the connection between quality geriatric nursing education and improved health outcomes for older adults

Continuing Education Units:

• 18 credits for FLAG Institute
• 24 credits for mentorship portion of FLAG
• 1 credit for completion of pre-Institute online module

FLAG Institute
 

The Institute portion of this program is completed in-person over three to four days, with the following components: 

• Modules specific to four core content areas
  
• Print and online resources to support effective teaching
• Faculty experts available to discuss implementation strategies
• Opportunities to network with FLAG colleagues
• Create a geriatric education leadership project

FLAG Mentorship

FLAG participants have the opportunity to engage in a year-long mentoring experience designed to increase leadership and content competencies in geriatric nursing. Participants work in groups of 4-6 members, with a FLAG expert mentor to facilitate implementation of the education projects at each participant’s home institution, and to continue developing leadership skills learned during the FLAG Institute.

FLAG Mentees

• Participate in quarterly meetings via phone or video conference calls
• Discuss implementation of an educational leadership project
• Disseminate any findings from their projects
• Submit a final report on their FLAG mentorship

2013 FLAG Dates

For 2013, we are offering two FLAG programs. The first will be held June 3 - 5 in Phoenix, Arizona.  The second will be held August 7 - 9, 2013 in Chicago, Illinois. 
Further details will be available at a later date.

For more information on the FLAG program, please contact mnhcgne@umn.edu