33^rd Nursing and Healthcare Congress

Consistent concern in the health literature about health professionals’ attitudes towards older adults raised the question of minimising ageist attitudes of student nurses in aged residential care (gerontology) clinical placements. The concept of ageism refers to processes of stereotying and discrimination based on age. With an increasingly ageing population this is a cause for concern among healthcare professonals and those involved in their education. Th is presentaton reports an exploratory New Zealand study comparing student nurses’ attitudes towards older adults before and aft er an introductory integrated gerontology theory and clinical practice paper. Th eoretical content and clinical experiences in nursing programmes should lead to attitudes that inform the practice of competent and caring practitioners. Th e Kogan Attitudes Towards Older People Scale was admistered to 156 student nurses at the beginning and end of the fi rst semester of study in a Bachelor of Nurisng programme. Th e results showed a statistically signifi cant positive shift in student’s self-reported attitudes towards older adults

followong the theoretical and clinical experience paper. The findings contribute to international evidence supporting the view that education about ageing and agesim helps shape attitudes when integrated with positive clinical placement oportuintites and positive role-modelling by registered nurses committed to gerontology.