Analysis of Professional Attributes and Scope in Aged Care Nursing

This essay provides a comprehensive overview of aged care nursing in Australia, focusing on the professional attributes and scope of practice that differentiate this specialty. It analyzes the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) standards for registered nurses, emphasizing the critical thinking, therapeutic relationships, and continuous professional development required. The essay highlights the expanding nature of aged care nursing due to the aging population and the various care settings where nurses can work, including community homes, residential care units, and hospitals. It also discusses the importance of family liaison, cultural sensitivity, communication skills, and the development of care plans. The essay concludes by emphasizing the vital role aged care nurses play in providing physical and mental health care services to the elderly and the increasing demand for these professionals in the future. The essay references several key publications in the field of gerontology and aged care nursing.

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Nursing
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Nursing is a vast field, and professionals responsible for delivering care are to address
physical and emotional needs of the individuals coming from diverse backgrounds. In the last
few decades, health care in Australia has undergone significant planned changes and reforms
to shape up nursing practice as per the emerging demands. Different speciality nursing
practices are now into existence that involves an emphasis on practice in a particular area
within the entire field of nursing, such as aged care nursing and mental health care nursing.
The present paper discusses and analyses the professional attributes and scope that
differentiates the speciality nursing practice of aged care nursing. The essay identifies the
additional education and training required for moving from novice to expert level in aged
care. NMBA standards for practice for registered nurses are mentioned in the paper in
relation to the speciality nursing practice.
Aged care nursing is an area of nursing that is expanding in a rapid rate due to the
ageing population of Australia. The career path is not only rewarding but also interesting,
engaging and challenging. Professionals can be working in a variety of care settings such as
community home, residential care units and hospitals (Currie et al., 2017). Both registered
nurses (RN) and enrolled nurses (ER) can pursue their career in aged care nursing. After
completing the Bachelor of Nursing program, one can pursue post-degree qualifications
including a Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters and Clinical Doctoral studies
specialising in aged care. A Masters or Certificate course in Aged care Nursing is a notable
investment in the future ensures better outcomes for patients as well as progress in career.
These educational qualification provides a professional with the key principles of aged care
nursing practice for improving the skills and knowledge for coordination and provision of
evidence-based care (Clark et al., 2013).
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has outlined the registered
nurse standards of practice that every registred nurse has to follow in due course of

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professional practice. Like other speciality nurses, aged care nurses are entailed to adhere to
these even standards in order to make their practice safe and of optimal quality
(nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au, 2016).
As per the first standard, an aged care nurse is to think critically while working with
the patients and engage in professional endeavours. A distinct set of skills are to be
demonstrated by the nurses working in the field of aged care nursing. Since these nurse face
an unique set of challenges, they are to be in a position to cope up the stress of managing
patients suffering from physical frailty and mental confusion. What is utmost needed is a
caring and sympathetic attitude. The approach towards patient care must be guided by
affection and friendliness (Meiner, 2013).
As per the second standard, an aged care nurse must engage in establishing
professional and therapeutic relationships with the patients. As opined by Geddes (2014)
family liaison is an important task that aged care nurses must be undertaking. A settling
period is usually required when an aged patient moves into the nursing home for the first
time. During this time the patient is in need of emotional support from the family members
and the staff of the unit for making the transition a smooth one. Issues and problems are
common for the patients to face at this time, and a nurse skilled in family liaison can help in
this regard. Apart from the patient, the family members also need support and counselling to
understand the concerns and fears of the aged patient. It is necessary that all patients are
respected, and their dignity is valued. It is the duty of the aged care nurse to help the family
members resolve the issues and ensure that the outcome is satisfactory (Pierre & Conley,
2017).
Maintaining the capability for practice is another requirement. Nurses working in
aged care facility must promote continuus professional development by engaging themselves

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in research. Keeping oneself updated about the latest development in aged acre practice is
essential for maintaining capability for practice (Ferraro & Wilmoth 2013). Further, an aged
care nurse must carry out a comprehensive assessment for fulfilling the fourth standard.
Understanding the cultural differences between patients is a crucial aspect since different
patients are from the different cultural background and it is natural for older adults to have a
firm respect for their cultures. Another key skill that all aged care nurses must have is good
communication skills since challenges are common while communicating with elder patients
while undertaking a complete assessment (Tabloski, 2013).
As per the fifth standard, a nurse is to develop a care plan according to the
comprehensive assessment done. Ferraro and Wilmoth (2013) outlined the daily routines of
an aged care nurse. Professionals from this domain are to fulfil a wide range of
responsibilities and complete certain tasks pertaining to need of care delivery.
Providing appropriate, responsive and safe care is the sixth standard. Normally, the
tasks that are undertaken by an aged care nurse include patient care management, monitoring
of health, dispensing medicines, administering treatments and recording observations
(Ferraro and Wilmoth 2013). The comprehensive needs of the patients, the care setting and
the level of qualification of the nurse would determine the nature of tasks that are to be done.
Nurses might also be required to have an active involvement in coordination and supervision
of recreational activities aimed at enriching the quality of life of patients. Performing hygiene
tasks are also a part of their duty.
Lastly, an aged care nurse must evaluate outcomes for informing nursing practice.
Apart from having key understanding of the nutritional needs of the patients, a nurse must
have knowledge about identification and management of symptoms of mental and physical

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issues. Further, an aged care nurse has to be patient, sensitive and must have a good level of
fitness (Arbon et al., 2009).
At the end of the paper, it can be stated that aged care nurses provide vital services to
the community as they care for the wellbeing and health of the elderly. They ideally work in
nursing homes, hospitals, residential facilities and through home care services, carrying out a
number of nursing tasks. These nurses are to have resilience and compassion for providing
daily mental and physical health care services required by the elderly. It is necessary that they
have an adequate understanding of the process of ageing, and its impact on human body and
mind. As the population of Australia is ageing, demand for this group of nurses who have
skills of gerontology would grow in future.

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References
Arbon, P., Bail, K., Eggert, M., Gardner, A., Hogan, S., Phillips, C., ... & Waddington, G.
(2009). Reporting a research project on the potential of aged care nurse practitioners
in the Australian Capital Territory. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(2), 255-262.
Clark, S., Parker, R., Prosser, B., & Davey, R. (2013). Aged care nurse practitioners in
Australia: evidence for the development of their role. Australian Health
Review, 37(5), 594-601.
Currie, J., Chiarella, M., & Buckley, T. (2017). Collaborative arrangements and privately
practising nurse practitioners in Australia: results from a national survey. Australian
Health Review, 41(5), 533-540.
Ferraro, K. F., & Wilmoth, J. M. (Eds.). (2013). Gerontology: Perspectives and issues.
Springer Publishing Company.
Geddes, L. (2014). Gerontology: Ageing more gracefully. Nature, 514(7521), 167-167.
Meiner, S. E. (2013). Gerontologic Nursing-E-Book. Elsevier Health Sciences.
Pierre, J. S., & Conley, D. M. (2017). Introduction to gerontological nursing. Gerontological
Nursing Competencies for Care, 1.
Registered nurse standards for practice. (2016).www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
Tabloski, P. A. (2013). Gerontological nursing. Pearson Higher Ed.