STUDENT NURSES' ATTITUDES TOWARD WORK WITH THE AGED (GERONTOLOGY).
Contributors: University of Denver.
Published: 1984
Number of pages: 236
Subjects: Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: Student nurses show little interest in work with the aged, and nursing educators are concerned with how to increase such interest. The purpose of the study was to identify variables related to preference for work with the aged and attitude toward gerontological nursing. A sample of 116 senior students and 47 faculty from three baccalaureate schools in Colorado and Wyoming were surveyed using a modified Wilensky-Barmack work-preference scale and a new Likert-type attitude scale to collect data on the dependent variables-preference for work with the aged and attitude toward gerontological nursing. Independent variables were age, sex, race, and personal, educational, and work experiences with the aged.

Students rated gerontological nursing as the least preferred of seven nursing specialities. Nursing homes received negative work-interest ratings, but clinics for senior citizens were rated more positively by both students and faculty. Students with experience as employees in nursing homes for more than six months and in other facilities caring for the aged gave less negative ratings to nursing-home work.

General attitude toward gerontological nursing was neutral. The attitude scale was subjected to factor analysis and four subscales were identified: (a) Nursing-Home Aversion, a negative factor; (b) Role Attraction, a positive factor; (c) Career Concerns, a neutral factor; and (d) Human-Service Concerns, a neutral factor. The nursing-home factor accounted for the largest variance in attitude score. Attitude toward gerontological nursing and work preferences with the aged were positively related confirming Fishbein and Ajzen's theory relating behavior and intentions. Based on the study's results, an appropriate assumption for curriculum planning is that improving student nurses' attitudes toward gerontological nursing will increase interest in work with the aged.

Male and white students had more negative attitudes than other students. Attitude and work interest was more positive for faculty with volunteer experiences in nursing homes and work experiences in other facilities caring primarily for the aged. No relationships were found between students' educational experiences with the aged and work interest or attitude toward gerontological nursing.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 45-06, Section: B, page: 1734.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF DENVER, 1984.

School code: 0061.