Abstract
Purpose: There is little evidence that factors influencing attitudes to older persons have been investigated (Moyle 2003). Changes to service delivery models within acute health have meant that there has been an increase in Day of Surgery Admissions (DOSA) and a decrease in length of stay. Many younger patients are cared for in the community supported with funded programs. Therefore, in-patient populations in acute care are generally older, with greater acuity and increasing co-morbidities. Australia expects an increase from 4.3 million older persons in 2021 to around 6.8million in 2051 (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2008). Aim: The aim of this study is to build on existing research (Courtney, Tong and Walsh 2000; McLafferty 2005; Wray and McCall 2007; Poole 2009), with a particular focus on immersion in practice and the impact of experience through immersion in practice on nurses' attitudes to working with older people. Methods: This study is ethnographic and utilized individual semi-structured interviews with 15 nurses. Four nurses agreed to be interviewed again to more fully explore their experiences of working with older people. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Analysis continued until saturation when no further themes were emerging from the data. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: Role-modelling, Dependence and Relationality. These themes are consistent with the existing literature and have been used to inform a professional development program for nurses. Conclusion: Immersion in clinical practice and socially constructed reflection impact nurses' attitudes to working with older people in acute care.The themes have informed the design of a professional development program that utilises a reflective practice paradigm. I have called the program Achieving Relational Reflection: improving care of older people. This program will be implemented in 2012.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
N/A
Research Approach
N/A
Keywords:
nursing, reflection, attitude
Recommended Citation
Mahoney, Anne-Marie and Beckett, David, "Nurses' Attitudes to Working with Older People in Acute Care" (2012). INRC (Congress). 100.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2012/presentations_2012/100
Conference Name
23rd International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Brisbane, Australia
Conference Year
2012
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Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Nurses' Attitudes to Working with Older People in Acute Care
Brisbane, Australia
Purpose: There is little evidence that factors influencing attitudes to older persons have been investigated (Moyle 2003). Changes to service delivery models within acute health have meant that there has been an increase in Day of Surgery Admissions (DOSA) and a decrease in length of stay. Many younger patients are cared for in the community supported with funded programs. Therefore, in-patient populations in acute care are generally older, with greater acuity and increasing co-morbidities. Australia expects an increase from 4.3 million older persons in 2021 to around 6.8million in 2051 (Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS, 2008). Aim: The aim of this study is to build on existing research (Courtney, Tong and Walsh 2000; McLafferty 2005; Wray and McCall 2007; Poole 2009), with a particular focus on immersion in practice and the impact of experience through immersion in practice on nurses' attitudes to working with older people. Methods: This study is ethnographic and utilized individual semi-structured interviews with 15 nurses. Four nurses agreed to be interviewed again to more fully explore their experiences of working with older people. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed. Analysis continued until saturation when no further themes were emerging from the data. Results: Three themes emerged from the analysis: Role-modelling, Dependence and Relationality. These themes are consistent with the existing literature and have been used to inform a professional development program for nurses. Conclusion: Immersion in clinical practice and socially constructed reflection impact nurses' attitudes to working with older people in acute care.The themes have informed the design of a professional development program that utilises a reflective practice paradigm. I have called the program Achieving Relational Reflection: improving care of older people. This program will be implemented in 2012.