Abstract
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine baccalaureate nursing student attitudes toward older adults and whether gerontological nursing education affects those attitudes. As the number of older adults increases, more nurses will be needed to provide care for this part of the population. Education specific to the health care needs of this population should enable nurses to provide safe, quality care by increasing their knowledge and understanding about the older adult.
In the essential competencies for the nursing care of older adults, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing addresses incorporation of attitudes about aging to the education about providing care to this group of patients. The competencies require knowledge regarding the aging process, the increased complexity of these patients and evidence-based practice to provide appropriate care to older adults. The vision of the National League for Nursing on caring for older adults focuses on the requirement to react to population increases and the complexity of care for these patients.
Methodology: A review of the literature was completed using terms “undergraduate nursing,” “attitudes,” and “older adults” from 2008-2015. A total of twenty-six articles and three resources were identified. The articles and resources were reviewed.
Findings: Studies from around the world indicated nursing students do not desire to work with older adults and that their attitudes influence this lack of desire. Gerontological education has been shown to sometimes influence nursing students to increase positive attitudes regarding older adults. Nursing student attitudes on older adults can vary throughout their undergraduate education. Inconsistent attitudes among nursing students with no clear predictors of what influences attitude can make it difficult to determine the best method of improving attitudes. In general, there is limited evidence regarding nursing student attitudes and what and how to influence them.
Implications for Nursing: Further research is needed on influencing attitudes of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students regarding nursing care of older adults. One challenge is determining the best way to positively influence the attitudes, thereby increasing the number of graduating nurses that desire to work with the growing older adult population.
Sigma Membership
Iota Nu at-Large
Lead Author Affiliation
Texas A&M University-Commerce, Commerce, Texas, USA
Type
Poster
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Literature Review
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Nursing Students, Undergraduate Nursing Students, Attitudes, Nurses' Attitudes, Older Adults
Recommended Citation
Tenhunen, Monica L., "Influencing undergraduate nursing student attitudes on older adults" (2020). General Submissions: Presenations (Oral and Poster). 20.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/gen_sub_presentations/2016/posters/20
Conference Name
Answering the Call: Nursing's Global Influence
Conference Host
Beta Chi Chapter,Northwestern State University
Conference Location
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Conference Year
2016
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Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Self-submission
Influencing undergraduate nursing student attitudes on older adults
Shreveport, Louisiana, USA
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine baccalaureate nursing student attitudes toward older adults and whether gerontological nursing education affects those attitudes. As the number of older adults increases, more nurses will be needed to provide care for this part of the population. Education specific to the health care needs of this population should enable nurses to provide safe, quality care by increasing their knowledge and understanding about the older adult.
In the essential competencies for the nursing care of older adults, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing addresses incorporation of attitudes about aging to the education about providing care to this group of patients. The competencies require knowledge regarding the aging process, the increased complexity of these patients and evidence-based practice to provide appropriate care to older adults. The vision of the National League for Nursing on caring for older adults focuses on the requirement to react to population increases and the complexity of care for these patients.
Methodology: A review of the literature was completed using terms “undergraduate nursing,” “attitudes,” and “older adults” from 2008-2015. A total of twenty-six articles and three resources were identified. The articles and resources were reviewed.
Findings: Studies from around the world indicated nursing students do not desire to work with older adults and that their attitudes influence this lack of desire. Gerontological education has been shown to sometimes influence nursing students to increase positive attitudes regarding older adults. Nursing student attitudes on older adults can vary throughout their undergraduate education. Inconsistent attitudes among nursing students with no clear predictors of what influences attitude can make it difficult to determine the best method of improving attitudes. In general, there is limited evidence regarding nursing student attitudes and what and how to influence them.
Implications for Nursing: Further research is needed on influencing attitudes of undergraduate baccalaureate nursing students regarding nursing care of older adults. One challenge is determining the best way to positively influence the attitudes, thereby increasing the number of graduating nurses that desire to work with the growing older adult population.