Rescinded publications

Aged Care Core Component In Undergraduate Nursing Curricula - Principles Paper

THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN RESCINDED. Prepared by School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology

Please note the information in this publication may no longer be current but is retained on our website for historical or research purposes.

This publication is available for download in PDF format:

PDF printable version of the Aged Care Core Component In Undergraduate Nursing Curricula - Principles Paper (PDF 375 KB)

The predicted future population profile of Australia reveals a progressively ageing population and highlights the demand for services to meet the health care needs of older people. The nursing profession, as primary health carers of the elderly, have a responsibility to be well prepared to provide quality care for the older person in all health care settings. Demographic trends indicate the majority of patients requiring health services are aged over 65 years. Therefore it is essential for all undergraduate student nurses to receive appropriate education in aged care.

The Australian Government have recognised the need to promote nursing and nurses caring for older people to address the issues of recruitment and retention of nurses in aged care nursing; inconsistent or 'hidden' aged care content within undergraduate nursing curricula; and the poor image of aged care nursing. In response to these issues, in February 2003 a project to develop principles for a core component of aged care in undergraduate nursing curricula was commissioned.

The purpose of this project was to develop a Principles Paper outlining desirable aged care content for inclusion in undergraduate nursing curricula; appropriate resources/material to support the Principles; barriers to the future implementation of Principles and resources; and future strategies for the implementation of the Principles and resources.

This project involved consultation with a number of representatives from Schools of Nursing in Australian Universities that focus on aged care/ageing, as well as representatives from aged care industry associations, aged care professional associations, consumer associations and nursing organisations. Participants met to identify and discuss core values, desirable aged care content, principles of learning and teaching aged care, resources needed, barriers to implementation and strategies for implementation of the Principles. This paper represents the outcome from the project.

This Principles Paper outlines the core values and learning outcomes for aged care education within undergraduate nursing curricula. Principles for the learning and teaching of aged care content in undergraduate nursing curricula and benchmarks for the inclusion of aged care content in undergraduate nursing curricula are also provided. Appropriate resources to support the principles and future strategies to facilitate the implementation of the principles are recommended.

If you are unable to download the PDF file please send an email to: acc@health.gov.au for a copy to be sent to you.
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