A cross-sectional view of Australian undergraduate nurses’ perceptions of working with older people

SummaryThe aim of this study was to understand undergraduate nurses’ perceptions of working with older people. This important issue has implications for stakeholders such as the nursing profession, educators, aged care providers and governments concerned about who is going to care for the increasing population of older people. Thirty-one Australian Universities that offered undergraduate nursing programmes were invited to participate in this cross-sectional study. A convenience sample of undergraduate nurses (N = 886) from eight universities participated. The Students’ Perceptions of Working with Older People questionnaire measured perceptions of working with older people in general, personal disposition towards or intention to work with older people and perceptions of the consequences of working with older people. When the students’ perceptions of working with older people in general were measured, students agreed that it is mainly about basic care. On the other hand, they indicated that working with older people is challenging, interesting and stimulating. In relation to a disposition towards or intention to work with older people they were ambivalent about their first clinical placement and were non-committal about working with older people when they qualified. This topic is relevant because the link between perceptions of working with older people and exposure to older people during undergraduate study warrants a great deal of attention as all nurses will need to understand older people and the care they need.