Aged care nursing not desired
Published: 20 October 2011
As our population ages and the demand for related health and aged care services increases, it stands to reason that we will need more, not less, aged care nurses. But according to new research by the Southern Cross University, nurses new to the profession are reluctant to enter the aged care sector.
A longitudinal study of student nurses conducted by Associate Professor John Stevens from the University’s School of Health and Human Sciences replicates one done nearly two decades ago that showed nurses do not want to work in aged care.
"Despite government and nursing profession reforms and initiatives to make caring for older people more attractive, the results are identical in every way to the 1992-95 study," Professor Stevens said.
"Australia is about 10,000 registered nurses (RN) short. Worldwide, the shortage is a staggering three million RNs. Recruitment into aged-care facilities and acute care services is a real problem."
According to Professor Stevens the professional socialisation of nursing students aligns with a broader culture of devaluing older people and the work associated with them.
"Typical comments were, ‘you don’t get to hone your skills in aged care’ and ‘nursing homes are horrible places to work where you get paid a lot less for doing more work’," he said.
There was a belief among nursing students that working with older people would have a negative effect on their careers, in contrast to intensive care nursing which was seen as a pathway to a successful career.
"In reality, working in aged care is incredibly rewarding work and the skills required are just as complex and far more diverse than required in ICU," said Professor Stevens.
"Ironically because of a rapidly ageing population, working with older people has unlimited potential for an autonomous, professional career while the work of nurses in ICU is mostly directed by doctors. Yet registered nurses working in aged care are paid on average 20 per cent less than nurses working in public hospitals."
The ANF/QNU Because We Care campaign for aged care seeks to address the growing wages gap between aged care nurses and nurses working in hospitals, and to achieve a skills mix that recognises the professional skills of all who undertake nursing work.
To find out more about the Because We Care campaign visit www.becausewecare.org.au
Professor Stevens’ paper, ‘Student nurses’ career preferences for working with older people: A replicated longitudinal survey’, appeared in the International Journal of Nursing Studies.
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