In late 2011 Bupa Care Services undertook a study to understand the barriers facing aged care recruiters in attracting the best people into the industry. As part of the study, Bupa spoke to a total of 30 nurses (internal and external) ranging from recently graduated to experienced senior managers to gauge their attitudes to aged care.

Whilst the study reaffirmed that aged care is not what it used to be and aged care nursing is a highly specialist role, there was an obvious disconnect with those from outside aged care who still prescribe to many of the long standing negative perceptions that have dogged aged care for many years. The outdated image of aged care as a regressive industry still impacts on nurses decisions to consider aged care as a serious career choice.

Aged care nursing is still seen from those outside of aged care, including university nursing faculties as a last chance saloon for registered nurses. The view is that a move to aged care would be the beginning of the end for a nurse’s clinical skills. Whilst it is true aged care nursing may not be the “sexy” option for a nursing graduate and we may never see a weekly prime time television drama set in an aged care home, aged care nursing is a specialism and brings with it’s own rewarding challenges.

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