Elsevier

Geriatric Nursing

Volume 20, Issue 1, January–February 1999, Pages 14-17
Geriatric Nursing

Challenges for Australian Nursing in the International Year of Older Persons☆,☆☆

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0197-4572(99)70050-9Get rights and content

Abstract

Some of the major issues challenging gerontic nursing in Australia are addressed in this article. The broad context of change that has been introduced by successive Australian governments is presented briefly. The problems of attracting and keeping qualified nurses in aged care exacerbated by a trend toward employers actively seeking to replace qualified nurses with unregulated staff are discussed. Education and work practice changes are proposed as minimum responses required from nursing if the profession is to remain relevant and central to aged care into the 21st century. (Geriatr Nurs 1999;20:14-7)

Section snippets

Image

Many Australian writings have identified the devalued image/status of elderly people and aged care as deterrents to nurses choosing this field of work;3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Australia is no different from other Western countries in this regard. The consequences of this devaluation have included limited recognition of elderly care in undergraduate nursing curricula, inappropriate placements of student nurses in aged care facilities that lacked positive role models, insufficient positive role models among

Education

Perhaps because aged care has been perceived to lack status and require few skills beyond those inherent in any “good mother,” postgraduate specialty courses have been poorly subscribed. Clearly, quality care of older people demands sufficient numbers of specifically prepared and qualified nurses.8 However, in addition to the lack of pressure on nurses to acquire advanced skills in gerontic nursing, increasing pressure is being placed on universities to charge student fees (traditionally

Changing Work Practices

In Victoria, the classification and awards that guide the aged care industry are derived from the public acute care sector. Aged care facilities, which largely are privately owned, have limited ability to pay for both manager positions and clinicians. The result is the employment of a higher grade RN who tries to do both. In reality, management functions leave little time for self and/or staff development of advanced clinical skills.

While the emphasis remains on management in residential care

Conclusion

Australian aged care is facing a crossroads in the continuing role of qualified nurses. Despite overwhelming evidence that qualified nurses positively influence quality of care, perceptions that unqualified staff yield cost-savings and aged people do not require qualified care are driving nurses away from this field. Traditional nursing education and work practices no longer are appropriate for contemporary demands, and new models must be developed and sold to the broader nursing profession,

References (9)

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    (1998)
  • R Nay et al.

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    (1998)
There are more references available in the full text version of this article.

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Rhonda Nay, PhD is a professor of gerontic nursing and the head of the School of Nursing at La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia. Sally Garratt, MScN is an associate professor of gerontic nursing and the director of residential care for the Association for the Blind Elanora Nursing Home. Susan Koch, MN is the director of postgraduate studies and senior lecturer at La Trobe University.

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