Materials and Method: This study was a quasi-experimental. Pretest-posttest design was used. The sample comprised 108 nursing students (46 of the students were educated in an elective geriatric nursing course, 62 were educated in an elective emergency and surgery nursing course). The Student Information Form and Kogan"s Attitudes Towards Old People Scale were used. Value, average, percentage frequency distribution, paired t tests, independent t test, McNemar"s test, and chi-square test were used.
Results: Students who participated in the elective geriatric nursing course developed more positive and less negative attitudes toward the elderly after the course in comparison with students who participated in the elective emergency and surgery nursing course.
Conclusion: It is important that the curriculum of the geriatric nursing course should create awareness and knowledge in students regarding care of and attitudes toward the elderly. Adopting a more positive and less negative attitude ensures a higher quality care for the elderly. There is a need to revise the nursing curriculum and develop innovative schemes that will increase the students" willingness to work with the elderly.
Keywords : Attitude; Aged; Students; Nursing; Curriculum