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

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.