At the study site, an elder care practicum was adopted after nursing students demonstrated a lack of interest in the well-being of elderly patients. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a change in college nursing students' attitudes toward nursing home residents as a result of increased intergenerational exposure following an elder care practicum. The theoretical framework for the study was Kolb's experiential learning theory. Research questions examined whether a significant difference existed in attitudes toward old people between 33 nursing students engaged with older patients at local nursing homes in a nursing elder care practicum and 32 nursing students not engaged with elders and receiving traditional lecture classes on patient care. Quantitative data were collected using Kogan's Attitudes toward Old People Scale, and posttest scores were compared between the treatment and control groups, while controlling for the pretest scores. Based on the posttest results, a significant difference in attitudes toward old people was found on only 1 of the 8 Kogan's Subscales, Subscale 6: the cognitive ability of elders. The conclusion that experiential learning improves student attitudes prompted these recommendations: (a) requiring the nursing elder care practicum for all nursing students, (b) requiring student interaction with self-reliant elders prior to the practicum with ill elders, and (c) requiring annual analysis of Kogan's Scale data to facilitate a data-driven curriculum. Implications for positive social change include improved attitudes toward elderly patients resulting in better trained nurses, compassionate care of the elderly, and adoption of innovative practices used in communicating with and caring for the elderly. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://www.proquest.com/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]