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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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Priorities for the professional development of registered nurses in nursing homes
— a Delphi study | | Author(s) | Emily Cooper, Karen Spilsbury, Dorothy McCaughan |
| Journal title | Age and Ageing, vol 46, no 1, January 2017 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press, January 2017 |
| Pages | pp 39-45 |
| Source | https://academic.oup.com/ageing |
| Keywords | Nursing homes ; Nurses ; Training [welfare work] ; Competence ; Job satisfaction. |
| Annotation | The purpose of the study was to establish a consensus on the care and professional development needs of registered nurses (RNs) employed by UK care homes. This was a two-stage, online modified Delphi study. Study participants were a panel of 352 individuals with experience, expertise or interest in care home nursing as follows: (i) care home nurses and managers; (ii) community healthcare professionals (including general practitioners, geriatricians, specialist and district nurses); and (iii) nurse educators in higher education. Study findings showed that RNs employed by nursing homes require particular skills, knowledge, competence and experience to provide high-quality care for older residents. The most important responsibilities for the nursing home nurse were: promoting dignity, personhood and wellbeing, ensuring resident safety and enhancing quality of life. Continuing professional development priorities included personal care, dementia care and managing long-term conditions. The main barrier to professional development was staff shortages. Nursing degree programmes were perceived as inadequately preparing nurses for a nursing home role. Nursing homes could improve by providing supportive learning opportunities for students and fostering challenging and rewarding careers for newly qualified RNs. If nurses employed by nursing homes are not fit for purpose, the consequences for the wider health and social care system are significant. Nursing homes, the NHS, educational and local authorities need to work together to provide challenging and rewarding career paths for RNs and evaluate them. Without well-trained, motivated staff, a high-quality care sector will remain merely an aspiration. (JL). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170310201 A |
| Classmark | LHB: QTE: QW: DPB: WL5 |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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