Undergraduate nursing students' experiences of residential aged care professional education practice: A scoping review

BACKGROUND: Proportionally the global population of older persons is increasing. Strategies are needed to ensure a sustainable and qualified aged-care workforce considering current and projected nursing workforce shortages. Recently graduated nurses may help ease the burden; however, nursing students are reluctant to pursue a career in aged care due to preconceived ideas and stereotypes. Professional education practice has the potential to improve undergraduate nursing students' perceptions of the residential aged care registered nurses' role and to promote the healthcare area as a valuable career choice. AIM: This scoping review aimed to identify and summarise the scope and nature of evidence relating to undergraduate nursing students' experiences with residential aged care professional education practice. METHOD: The authors used a scoping review to identify relevant articles across the following databases: CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, PsycINFO, and Psychology and Behavioural Sciences. Eligible studies focused on undergraduate nursing students' experiences of their residential aged care professional education practice. Data were extracted, grouped into themes and presented through narrative synthesis. Reporting of findings was guided by the PRISMA-ScR checklist. RESULTS: Following screening against the inclusion criteria, 33 articles were included in the review. Four key themes were identified following a basic qualitative analysis approach: autonomy and independence; leadership and management; a complex and unique environment; and positive mentorship and supervision. CONCLUSION: Findings highlight that the scope and expertise of registered nurses within aged care may attract future nurses to this complex and essential area of healthcare. Developing mentorship, education and undergraduate nursing curricula are key strategies to support preparation of nursing students and graduates to support career pathways in aged care nursing.