A Multi‐Method Study of the Geriatric Learning Needs of Acute Care Hospital Nurses in Ontario, Canada

Abstract

Older people are at risk of experiencing functional decline and related complications during hospitalization. In countries with projected increases in age demographics, preventing these adverse consequences is a priority. Because most Canadian nurses have received little geriatrics content in their basic education, understanding their learning needs is fundamental to preparing them to respond to this priority. This two-phased multi-method study identified the geriatrics learning needs and strategies to address the learning needs of acute care registered nurses (RNs) and registered practical nurses (RPNs) in the province of Ontario, Canada. In Phase I, a survey that included a geriatric nursing knowledge scale was completed by a random sample of 2005 Ontario RNs and RPNs. Average scores on the geriatric nursing knowledge scale were in the "neither good nor bad" range, with RNs demonstrating slightly higher scores than RPNs. In Phase II, 33 RN and 24 RPN survey respondents participated in 13 focus group interviews to help confirm and expand survey findings. In thematic analysis, three major themes were identified that were the same in RNs and RPNs: (a) geriatric nursing is generally regarded as simple and custodial, (b) older people's care is more complex than is generally appreciated, and (c) in the current context, older people's care is best learned experientially and in brief on-site educational sessions. Healthcare providers, policy-makers, and educators can use the findings to develop educational initiatives to prepare RNs and RPNs to respond to the needs of an aging hospital population.

Nursing practice with hospitalised older people: Safety and harm

“…Yet, nurses graduate with inadequate preparation to provide care for the ageing population (Baumbusch & Andrusyszyn, ; Deschodt, Dierckx de Casterlé, & Milisen, ; Gilje, Lacey, & Moore, ; Hirst, Lane, & Stares, ; Ironside, Tagiareni, McLaughlin, King, & Mengel, ; Xiao, Paterson, Henderson, & Kelton, ). This leads to gaps in practising nurses' knowledge about how to care for older people (Fox et al, ) and nurses misinterpreting the complex presentations of acute illness in older people as normal aspects of ageing (Dahlke, Phinney, Hall, Rodney, & Baumbusch, ; Kjorven, Rush, & Hole, ). Structural constraints (e.g., skill mix, access to resources) within hospital environments influence nurses' management of patients' needs (Aiken, Sloane, Bruyneel, Van den Heede, & Sermeus, ; Clarke & Aiken, ; Lucero, Lake, & Aiken, ).…”

Workplace continuing education for nurses caring for hospitalised older people

“…The GET Program was developed to provide nurses working in hospitals with continuing education about caring for older people. While other studies have focused on the learning needs of nurses working hospitals (Fox et al., ), our project is one of a small number of studies that involved the implementation and evaluation of a continuing education programme. Although we did not find measurable improvements in participants’ general knowledge of older people, their perceptions about caring for older people improved over time.…”

“…As suggested by others (Griscti & Jacono, ), having a mixture of didactic (e.g., lecture) and participatory (e.g., case studies, small group work) delivery methods enhances learning. As well, nurses have reported a preference for multiple, on‐site, short sessions rather than day‐long sessions (Fox et al., ). Although we initially offered the GET Program as day‐long workshops for the purpose of the study, the Program is comprised of shorter modules (e.g., face‐to‐face or blended learning) that can be offered individually and can be customised and integrate critical thinking relevant to different clinical areas (e.g., emergency department) or care providers (e.g., occupational therapists, physiotherapists, practical nurses).…”

The Relationships Between the Geriatric Practice Environment, Nursing Practice, and the Quality of Hospitalized Older Adults’ Care

“…The eligibility criteria and data collection procedures have been previously described (Fox et al, 2015). The questionnaire containing measures of the concepts was mailed to a random sample of nurses working in acute care hospitals in Ontario, Canada.…”