Geriatric mental health education in Canada SKIPs into the 21st century.

The Skills Immersion Program (SKIP) provides an educational opportunity for staff nurses who face the challenge of caring for residents who present with psychiatric and behavioral problems in long-term care (LTC) facilities within British Columbia, Canada. With the aging population and an increase in the number of individuals waiting for placement in care facilities, care providers are in substantial need of advanced education and training in the field of geriatric psychiatry nursing. Nurses working in LTC facilities in Canada are not prepared to manage the changing acuity levels and complex needs of their residents. The SKIP was developed by nurses, primarily for nurses, at St. Vincent's Hospital in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Nurses who participate in the SKIP acquire an enhanced knowledge base in geriatric psychiatry nursing and gain access to assessment tools that will assist staff to increase the quality of care for their residents.