PURPOSE: To define the term complexity of care.
BACKGROUND: The aging population and lack of gerontological preparation in pre-licensure nursing programs are pressing issues. The NLN Advancing Care Excellence for Seniors (ACE.S) project developed a framework to facilitate faculty and student understanding of older adults' care needs. Integral to the framework is the concept of complexity of care.
METHOD: Rogers and Knafl's evolutionary method of concept analysis was used.
RESULTS: The analysis identified three antecedents (focus on treatment and cure of disease, multiple comorbidities, and life experiences and culture), five attributes (polypharmacy, use of advanced technologies, novel care models, a fragmented health care system, and the relational nature of caregiving), and two consequences (impact on quality of life and impact on quality of care).
CONCLUSION: Defining the concept of complexity of care will facilitate student understanding of the unique health care needs of older adults.