A Personal Reflection on Geriatric Career Motivations

Generally, people would prefer to age in their own home rather than in a long-term care facility (OLTCA, 2019). However, these services become necessary when the quality and safety of an individual's life becomes compromised. Before I began my education as a nurse, I had very little knowledge of long-term care facilities and other residential homes. Fortunately, most of my grandparents have been able to stay in their own homes during their senior years, and just recently, my great grandparents had the opportunity to downsize in a beautiful retirement home for those 55 years and older. This shaped my expectations of the elderly populations living in these homes as they should be able to perform their activities of daily living (ADLs) independently, with little or no help from health care providers, cleaning staff, and cooks. These assumptions quickly became shifted when I began working at the Applefest Lodge Retirement home (which I feel should be considered more of a long-term care facility). The residents I tend to require a wide range of care, from taking daily blood pressure as requested by their doctor to as involved as feeding them their meals. The majority of residents have lost their capabilities to perform their ADLs, and they rely on me to direct them through their day safely.

There are many reasons why people choose nursing as their career. Though I feel we all share the goal of improving someone's life, I also enjoy the complexity of care nurses can offer. Beginning my career in a senior's residence has allowed me to apply new and fundamental nursing skills. However, as I become more educated and gain additional practice through clinical placements, I would like to work in a more fast-paced and hands-on environment that allows me to apply more complex nursing skills. Another factor that influences my motivations to work with geriatric clients is the patience and attention they require daily. Pressure from society and regulatory boards also offers an added pressure as this vulnerable population can become easily neglected. After reflecting on skills I needed when caring for incarcerated individuals, these capabilities did not differ much then what I provide in the retirement home. However, I feel the elder population proves to be much more demanding as they need assistance bathing, toileting, and feeding, whereas the inmates are capable of performing their ADLs.

New nurses may also have low motivation to work in a gerontological field as some may experience aging anxiety (Chai et al., 2019). Aging anxiety can be defined as the fear of losing physical, mental, and personal losses while getting older (Chai et al., 2019). It is suggested that those who know less about the aging process experience higher levels of anxiety and therefore decrease one's motivation to work with the elder population (Chai et al., 2019). I can relate to this type of fear, especially since it leads me to think about death. During the start of my time at the retirement home, the quality of my sleep became impacted as working with the elderly prompted me to think about dying. To decrease this debilitating factor, educators can relieve anxiety by increasing knowledge and awareness of the aging process and provide opportunities that allow students to work with this population (Chai et al., 2019). After reading the web document prepared by the Ontario Long-Term Care Association (OLTCA), I have developed an improved outlook around this career path, and I hope as I continue through the NURS 1020 and 1002 courses, I will become less bothered by the aging process.

The OLTCA document highlights how in the next 20 years, our population will include more than twice the amount of individuals over the age of 75 (OLTCA, 2019). This will contribute to the number of clients who will suffer from dementia, incontinence, and other health-related conditions which will cause the need for additional medical services (OLTCA, 2019). It is also discussed how disabling dementia can be for these individuals and how health care providers play a key role in minimizing its effects (OLTCA, 2019). Much work has been done to improve the quality of care given in long-term care facilities by limiting the use of anti-psychotics and applying physical restraints. However, it cannot be ignored that with more nursing staff, the grade of care could surpass where it is at now and allow for more individuals to be welcomed into these homes (OLTCA, 2019). Hiring more nurses could result in a lower patient-nurse ratio, limiting the demand of care health care providers are used to giving and improving the services each client receives (OLTCA, 2019). It is comforting to know that the provincial and federal government acknowledges the need for additional funds to reduce staff shortages. I am optimistic that a wide range of care providers will be willing to work in this field if greater incentives are offered (OLTCA, 2019). The information page was informative when explaining the roles of long-term care facilities as well as the consequences aging diseases have on individuals. Additionally, the graphics used also fulfilled their intended purpose of demonstrating how residents in these facilities value and need the support they receive from medical staff. Though it may not be my first choice for the field of nursing I partake in, I know it would be the most rewarding and appreciated as this gerontological nursing needs more help than ever, today and in the future.

References

​Chai, X., Cheng, C., Mei, J., & Fan, X. (2019). Student nurses' career motivation toward gerontological nursing: A longitudinal study. Nurse Education Today, 76, 165–171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nedt.2019.01.028

OLTCA. (2019). This is long-term care 2019. Ontario Long Term Care Association. https://www.oltca.com/OLTCA/Documents/Reports/TILTC2019web.pdf