To explore the perspectives and experiences related to caring for older people during clinical placement among undergraduate nursing students.

A qualitative exploratory study analysing individual interview data.

Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Participants: A purposive sample of 14 undergraduate nursing students.

Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted, audio-recorded and transcribed. Data were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s reflexive thematic analysis framework.

Five themes emerged: (1) understanding ageing: The concept of ‘Age’, (2) Complexity of care: navigating challenges, (3) Care provision: rewards, growth and fulfilment, (4) Addressing challenges: barriers to support and (5) Reaching the horizon: enhancing geriatric education. Nursing students encountered both positive and negative experiences related to caring for older people. Positive experiences included increased self-awareness, learning opportunities, skill development and personal satisfaction. Negative experiences involved student-related and patient-related challenges, initial difficulties in providing care and inadequate support and mentoring during clinical placements.

Despite the complexities of caring for older people, nursing students are motivated to learn and provide the necessary care. This study highlights the need for quality care for older people, the importance of early geriatric education and the need for enhancing clinical supervision and mentoring.

With the rapid increase in the number of older adults living with chronic diseases and disabilities, there is a growing need to prepare nurses with positive attitudes and a willingness to work with older adults. This study aims to examine attitudes towards and willingness to work with older adults among nurses.

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a purposive sample of 267 nurses at the University Hospital of Kotelawala Defence University, Sri Lanka. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire consisting of socio-demographic variables, Kogan’s Attitudes Toward Old People Scale and questions related to willingness to work with older adults. Descriptive statistics and linear and logistic regression analyses were used in data analysis.

The majority were female nurses (71.9%, n=192) and held slightly negative (58%, n=155) or slightly positive (41.9%, n=122) attitudes towards working with older adults. Only 35.2% (n=94) were willing to work with older adults in this study. A male nurse (beta coefficient (β)=4.644, CI 2.392 to 6.896, p

Most nurses express slightly negative to positive attitudes and have little interest in working with older adults. Various socio-demographic factors have an impact on attitudes towards and willingness to work with older adults. Since nurses play a significant role in providing care for older adults, the development of positive attitudes is essential, and interventions and strategies are crucial to increasing their willingness to work with older adults.