Project underway to identify nursing competencies in aged care

Registered nurses are being asked to have their say in the development of Australia’s first set of aged care nursing competencies.

Registered nurses are being asked to have their say in the development of Australia’s first set of aged care nursing competencies.

The research project is a collaboration between the University of Wollongong and five industry partners – Anglicare, BaptistCare, HammondCare, Scalabrini, and Uniting.

Associate Professor Victoria Traynor from the UOW’s School of Nursing said the research study aimed to provide a much needed framework for registered nurses working across both community and residential aged care.

“To date, the available nursing competencies for the aged care sector were developed in North America where the model of healthcare and nursing is very different to Australia,” Associate Professor Traynor said.

Registered nurses are being encouraged to participate in an online survey to comment on the draft list of competencies.

The framework of nursing competencies will provide a helpful resource for registered nurses and service providers to structure aged care work, develop education programs and nursing career pathways in community and residential care, she said.

From the feedback gathered the researchers will generate descriptors for three different levels of aged care nursing competence – beginner, intermediate and expert.

To comment on the framework for gerontological nursing competencies click here.

To subscribe to CCR please visit http://www.australianageingagenda.com.au/subscribe-to-ccr/

Tags: education, nursing-competencies, research, resource, survey, university-of-wollongong, victoria-traynor,

3 thoughts on “Project underway to identify nursing competencies in aged care

  1. Patients will only receive good care when resident/staff ratio is set at a more favorable level,and there are more trained staff delivering care

  2. Its great to here that Aged care is getting some attention. With a father in aged care, I am horrified at the difference in care of some of the ‘registered nurses’. Some truly don’t care! I am there every day to ensure that he is receiving the care he deserves and needs!
    So competencies may pull the lazy ones into line but the truth is, as stated above, -nurse/patient and pca/patient ratios in High care! And proper guidance to the pca’s from the registered nurses would not go astray!
    How can 1 RN and 1 PCA take care of 30 high care residents over night effectively!

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