Cooper, E, Spilsbury, K orcid.org/0000-0002-6908-0032, McCaughan, D et al. (3 more authors) (2017) Priorities for the professional development of registered nurses in nursing homes: a Delphi study. Age and Ageing, 46 (1). pp. 39-45. ISSN 0002-0729
Abstract
Objective: to establish a consensus on the care and professional development needs of registered nurses (RNs) employed by UK care homes.
Design: two-stage, online modified Delphi study. Setting and participants: a panel (n = 352) of individuals with experience, expertise or interest in care home nursing: (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. Results: 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 RNs. Conclusion: 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.
Metadata
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Geriatrics Society. All rights reserved. This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Age and Ageing following peer review. The version of record, Cooper, E, Spilsbury, K , McCaughan, D, Thompson, C , Butterworth, T and Hanratty, B (2016) Priorities for the professional development of registered nurses in nursing homes: a Delphi study. Age and Ageing, 46 (1). pp. 39-45. ISSN 0002-0729, is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw160. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | older people; Delphi survey; nursing homes; skilled nursing facilities; frail elderly; long term care |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 18 Jul 2016 15:20 |
Last Modified: | 18 Jul 2019 22:01 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afw160 |