San Diego State University, School of Nursing has been systematically evaluating, developing and integrating essential gerontological nursing content into the baccalaureate program since 1989. It began with the establishment of the San Diego Geriatric Education Center. The Center was a collaborative, inter-institutional, multi-professional partnership with other schools and health facilities and addressed the question: how to educate health-care professionals with attention to a multidisciplinary approach to meeting the needs of the elderly with special attention to minority elderly.

From this base of activity, the School of Nursing developed a course in Gerontological Nursing required for all undergraduate majors, and curriculum guides for the integration of gerontological nursing content into all other clinical nursing courses except pediatric nursing. The Gerontological Nursing course emphasizes wellness and healthy aging, the health-illness continuum and provides weekly clinical experience with seniors in their homes, residential facilities, assisted living apartments, health centers and senior centers. Students have also been involved in the Senior Olympics and other similar activities as the opportunities arise. The clients served by the clinical agencies reflect the cultural diversity of California and include many first-generation immigrants. A description of the course is included in J. Lantz et.al.,(1992) " The Level and Focus of Geriatric Nursing Content in Associate and Baccalaureate Nursing Programs", Journal of Nursing Education.

Age-related content has also been integrated into the Health Assessment course, the Psychiatric-Mental Health Nursing course, women’s health and grandparenting in the Obstetrical Nursing course, Adult Health Nursing, and Community Health Nursing. A new elective course also includes health issues of concern to the older woman.