Changing student attitudes to aged care

Dr Maree Bernoth, from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Indigenous Health at CSU in Wagga Wagga, said: “In keeping with societal attitudes and stigmas, undergraduate nursing students tend to find the study of ageing and caring for older people basic, disinteresting and irrelevant.”

To confront these attitudes and to show the students the complex and highly skilled nature of aged care, Dr Bernoth developed online resources for her students and encouraged them to engage during their time at CSU with older people.

Dr Bernoth said the quality of the education provided to nursing students and other aged care workers was extremely important in combating abuse of elders.

“Previously the nursing students undertaking the aged care subject would come in contact with only frail dependent older people during a work placement in residential aged care.

“Although obviously a very significant setting, I wanted to broaden their views of aged care nursing and foster their contact with well, older people.”

During tutorials for the aged care subject, third year Bachelor of Nursing students are able to meet and talk with members of the Older Men New Ideas (OMNI) group, whose ages range from 73 to 93 years.

OMNI member, Dr Ray King, said the involvement of members in Dr Bernoth’s learning initiatives benefited both the presenters from the OMNI group and the nursing students.

Drawing on the acting, producing, editing and design skills of students from the University's School of Communication and Creative Industries, a DVD of an older couple living in the community, The Colgraves, has been developed for use in the aged care subject. It is now part of the assessment for the subject.

“The feedback on these initiatives from nursing students, graduates and those who come across our graduates in the workplace has been positive and encouraging,” Dr Bernoth said.

“During the past four years, I have motivated students to learn more about the care of the older people and student engagement with this aged care subject has increased.

“I believe our students are taking their knowledge and skills into their professional arenas, translating knowledge into practice.

“Ultimately this is making a difference to the standard of care of Australia's ageing population.”