People are living longer than they did 50 years ago. In 1970, men lived to about 68 years on average. Today, many live past 80. You can see this change in data from Statistics New Zealand. This is good news. It shows that medicine and public health are getting better.
But living longer also means people spend more years with health issues. Age is a major risk for many diseases. This shift changes what you need from the nursing workforce. Nurses must know how to handle complex social and ethical tasks. One of the biggest hurdles they face is bias. If you want to provide great care, you must address ageism in nurse training.
The Impact of Long Lives on Nursing
The way people age is changing. Many older adults stay active and healthy for a long time. However, the health system often sees them only as "patients." This view is narrow. It does not account for the different ways people grow old.
As a leader or educator, you must recognize that old age is not a single experience. Some people need help with daily tasks. Others are running marathons. If training only shows one side, nurses will not be ready for the reality of the job. You need to make sure that training keeps up with these changes.
Defining Ageism in Nurse Training
Ageism is when people are treated differently just because of their age. This bias can be quiet. It often shows up in the way people think without even knowing it. In a report from the WHO, nearly 60 percent of health workers said they made assumptions about patients based on age.
In training, this bias looks like:
- Using case studies that only show older people as frail.
- Teaching that memory loss is a normal part of getting older.
- Treating aged care as a place for beginners rather than experts.
When these ideas take root, they stay with a nurse throughout their career. You must find ways to stop these ideas before they start.
How Bias Hurts Healthcare for Older People
When nurses have ageist views, it hurts healthcare for older people. It changes how they see symptoms. A nurse might see an older person who is tired or confused. If they have bias, they might think, "That is just what happens when you get old."
This is dangerous. It leads to:
- Missing real sickness that could be treated.
- Giving less treatment than the person needs.
- Decisions that are based on stereotypes instead of facts.
There is evidence that older people do not always get the same level of care as younger people. They might be left out of certain services. This creates gaps in health. You have a duty to close these gaps by improving how nurses learn.
Problems with Student Nurse Clinical Placements
The way schools set up student nurse clinical placements is a big part of the problem. Many programs send students to aged residential care facilities during their very first year. This sends a silent message. It suggests that caring for older people is "basic" work.
When you send a brand-new student to these facilities, they only see the most frail people. In fact, only about 7 percent of older people live in these homes. If students only see this group, they start to think all older people are the same. They miss out on learning how to keep older people healthy and active.
The View from Aged Residential Care Facilities
The system often devalues the work done in these facilities. Students often notice that the staff is very busy. They see nurses who do not have enough time to talk to the residents. This makes the work look like a "conveyor belt."
Research shows that students worry about their future if they work in this field. They might feel that:
- They will not learn high-level skills.
- Other parts of the health system will not hire them later.
- The pay is not high enough for the hard work they do.
To fix this, you must show that aged care is a specialty. It requires deep knowledge of Connected Systems for Aged Care Standards. It is not just "basic" care. It is complex and important.
Changing the Training Materials
You can start to fix these issues by looking at the books and lessons used in class. Many case studies focus on:
- Falls.
- Dementia.
- End-of-life care.
While these are important, they are not the whole story. You should include stories of older people who have agency. Use examples of people who manage their own health. Show that older adults are a diverse group with different goals.
New Paths for Education
Training needs to change to meet the needs of the future. Here are some steps you can take:
- Use placements that show a wider range of health needs.
- Help students meet older people who are not in the hospital.
- Teach that ageism is a social factor that hurts health.
- Focus on empathy and connection between generations.
Older groups are becoming more diverse. This includes Māori, Pacific people, and rainbow communities. Your training must reflect these different backgrounds. If you do not, the bias will only get worse as these groups grow older.
FAQ
What is ageism in nursing?
It is the bias or assumptions made about patients based on their age. It can lead to poor care or ignored symptoms.
Why are clinical placements a problem?
Placements often happen too early in training. They also focus only on the most frail people, which creates a narrow view of aging.
How can we improve healthcare for older people?
By training nurses to see older adults as individuals. We must also use better technology and standards to support care.
What should be in nurse training materials?
They should include examples of active aging, health promotion, and the social needs of older adults.
Advancing Your Strategy for Better Care
To give the best care, you must look at how you teach. The globe is changing, and the people you serve are living longer. This is a chance to make the health system better for everyone. You can lead the way by removing bias from your lessons.
Focus on the skills needed for complex care. Use tools that help you follow the best standards. When you treat aged care with respect, your students will too. This leads to a workforce that is ready to help everyone age with dignity and health. You have the power to change how the next generation of nurses sees the people in their care. By fixing training now, you make the future of health brighter for everyone.
