Aged Care Classroom: A New Approach to Building the Aged Care Workforce
Louise Ward, Katrina Austen, Dima Nasrawi, Donna Wilson, Duncan McKimm, Jennene Greenhill
Using aged care providers to present real-life case studies challenges student’s preconceptions about what aged care nursing involves.
Changing minds by sharing real world knowledge
Aged care is one of the largest principle areas of nursing practice in Australia. Despite this, nursing student knowledge and perception of the sector is poor.
Not-for-profit aged care provider Clarence Village and Southern Cross University nursing academics have come together to create the Aged Care Classroom.
This project investigates whether exposing students to real aged care case studies in a workshop setting can change their minds about this important area of nursing practice.
Case Studies
Roger
The first case study involved Roger - a long term resident of the town with dementia. He still enjoyed walking downtown to get the newspaper, place bets on horseracing at local pubs and talking to people he knew.
When Roger moved into residential aged care permanently he was in good physical health but did not recognize the facility as his home. Staff were concerned that if permitted to walk into town Roger may fall or become lost.
Students discussed the clinical decision-making pathway they would take, led by the industry-partner, Clarence Village. Once consensus was reached in the group students were shown a video where Clarence Village’s Facility Manager explained the clinical decision-making pathway employed in real life and the results achieved.
Pat
The second case study involved Pat - a woman with dementia whose daughters had requested a case conference after becoming upset with her increasing sexualized behaviour and following a sexual assault incident with another resident with dementia.
The daughters were requesting Pat be restricted to the wing her room is located in to limit her ability to interact with male residents. They also wanted Pat and another resident to receive medications to reduce their sexual urges.
Students were guided through a discussion around restrictive practice and dignity of risk by the industry partner, Clarence Village. Once consensus was reached in the group students were shown a video where the Facility Manager explained the clinical decision-making pathway employed in real life and the results achieved.
Pre and post workshop surveys were used to identify student perceptions of aged care and whether they were considering a career in the industry
STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF AGED CARE - PRE
Jail
•
God's Waiting Room
•
Sad
•
Distressing
•
Hopeless
•
Embarassing
•
Understaffed
•
Vulnerable
•
Jail • God's Waiting Room • Sad • Distressing • Hopeless • Embarassing • Understaffed • Vulnerable •
STUDENT PERCEPTIONS OF AGED CARE - POST
Variety
•
Diverse
•
Necessary
•
Respectful
•
Dignity
•
Important
•
Patient-centred
•
Complex
•
Variety • Diverse • Necessary • Respectful • Dignity • Important • Patient-centred • Complex •
Interest in aged care as a career
Students were asked in pre and post workshop surveys about whether they were considering aged care as a career pathway. The results showed a significant increase in the number of students expressing an interest in an aged care nursing career.
Students were also surveyed pre and post workshop about what they thought the role of an RN in aged care was
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF RN IN AGED CARE IS - PRE
Medication rounds
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End of life care
•
Supervisory
•
Pain relief
•
Clinical decision-makers
•
Care planning
•
Complex wound care
•
Person-centred care
•
Medication rounds • End of life care • Supervisory • Pain relief • Clinical decision-makers • Care planning • Complex wound care • Person-centred care •
WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ROLE OF RN IN AGED CARE IS - POST
Complex care
•
Resident advocate
•
Best outcome for resident
•
Dignity of risk
•
Care planning/coordination
•
Quality of care
•
Complex care • Resident advocate • Best outcome for resident • Dignity of risk • Care planning/coordination • Quality of care •
The team
The Aged Care Classroom team are passionate about nursing education. If you’re interested to know more about the project or would like to discuss working together please get in touch.