What’s Stopping a Career in Gerontological Nursing? Article Critique Example

The field of nursing is becoming more demanding, as the world’s population continues to age, there are a shortage of nurses available to handle the patient care. In the following article, “What’s Stopping a Career in Gerontological Nursing? Literature Review.” The authors Neville, Dickie, and Goetz provide well research literature review on undergraduate nursing student career preferences from seven different countries, which focus on the lowly sought career in the field of gerontological nursing. The key points that the authors try to address in their literature review are the reasons in which nursing students do not seek a career in Gerontological nursing. They range from the level of education, to the role of focusing on treating chronic diseases, to the lack of promotion or recognition in the field. The study also presented influences from the discouraging contact with other RNs, new graduates, and their student peers, the poor quality of clinical placements, and the negativity in the media. (Neville, Dickie, Goetz 2014)

The group also presented the key research used in identifying attempts to change this perspective in providing innovative curriculum activities that spawned positive aspects. To creating enriched environments for supporting the aspects of security for students in long-term and acute care. The authors used four studies in which to convey the attempts in addressing the problem. The studies centered on developing activities that better-prepared students for nursing older adults, and using qualified clinical staff to showcase a more enhanced clinical experience to students. The overall results were positive changes to the viewpoint of starting a career in Gerontological nursing. However influencing factors such as the working conditions, clinical placements, the undergraduate nursing curriculum, and societal values about aging have contributed to the global issue. In trying to change the way in which nursing students view Gerontological nursing the authors believe there needs to be a focus on the four factors.

The authors that have backgrounds in the field of nursing and doctoral studies have presented a very important article that researches the growing global problem on the shortage of nurses in the field of Gerontological nursing. As the world’s population continues to age, more focus needs to be given on who is able to care for them when they are placed in community-based and hospital settings. The literature review that is well-research with supporting studies from seven different countries provides a beneficial contribution to the field of Gerontological nursing, and the overall medical community. The methodology in which they chosen to conduct their research is a qualitative approach, using different peer-reviewed case studies taken from medical databases to support their primary purpose of drawing attention to the lack of interest in the field. The case studies centered on long-term care facilities due to the primary shortage of nurses in this field. Using this approach, the authors were able to utilized already published case studies that presented perspectives of undergraduate nurses across the globe and their interest in working with older adults. The studies provided valuable information on why students had limited interest in the field, as well as how the curriculum and other factors contributed to their disinterest.

The authors conducted valuable research in indicating the need to reexamine the approach in to which undergraduate nurses are exposed to the field of Gerontological nursing. As well as how to address the negative societal influences of aging, the type of placement that coincides with the quality of working conditions, and the choices of experts used in delivering the curriculum to nursing students. These factors are pertinent in the field of gerontology, as they are found to influence the way in which to promote gerontological nursing as a desirable career choice for undergraduates.  This article contributes to the overall focus on addressing the nursing shortage and the quality of education, and working conditions for nurses in LTC facilities.

References

Neville, Christine, Dickie, Robyn, Goetz, Sandra. (2014). What’s Stopping a Career in Gerontological Nursing?: Literature Review. Journal of Gerontological Nursing. Vol. 40, No.1. pg. 18-28.