Staff in Australian nursing homes: Their qualifications, experience and attitudes
Alan Pearson
Professor of Nursing; Director, Deakin Institute of Nursing Research, Deakin University, Geelong VIC
Susan Hocking
Senior Research Officer, Deakin Institute of Nursing Research, Deakin University, Geelong VIC
Sarah Mott
Research Fellow, Deakin Institute of Nursing Research, Deakin University, Geelong VIC
Anne Riggs
Centre for the Body and Society, Deakin University, VIC
PP: 015 - 022
Abstract
This paper is based upon findings from a study carried out by the Institute of Nursing Research between 1989 and 1990. The major objective of the study was to determine the impact of staffing mix on nursing homes residents' quality of care and life as measured against the standards set out in 'Living in a Nursing Home'. An additional objective was to identify if there are any factors which may constrain or influence optimality.
'Skills mix' is sometimes used to describe the ratio of different levels of staff in terms of qualifications. The literature suggests, however, that such factors are only one dimension of skills mix in terms of the skills which people bring into their work in nursing homes. Other factors include the numbers of staff; the mix of staff in terms of level of qualification; the life experience of staff; and the educational experience of staff. This paper examines the finding s of the study in the light of staff characteristics based on the criteria identified.
References
Aiken LH, Mezey MD, Lynaugh JE and Buck CR (1985) Teaching nursing homes: prospects for improving long-term care. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society 33(3): 96-201.
Bayer M, Bresloff L and Curley D (1986) The enhancement project: a program to improve the quality of residents' lives. Geriatric Nursing 7(4) Jul/Aug): 192-195.
Brown CK (1984) Long-term care 'super' nurse. Georgia Nursing XLIV(3): 1,7.
Commonwealth/State Working Party on Nursing Home Standards (1987) Living in a nursing home: outcome standards for Australian nursing homes. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Ersser S (1988) Nursing beds and nursing therapy. In: Pearson A (ed) Primary nursing. Croom Helm, London.
Georghiou G (1986) Home service. Nursing Times March 19: 57-58.
Goodwin S and Mangan P (1985) First steps into the unknown. Nursing Times October 9: 36-37.
Hall L, Alfons G, Rifkin E and Levine H (1975) Final report: longitudinal effects of an experimental nursing process. Loeb Center for Nursing, New York.
Knowles L (1983) Gerontological nursing 1982. International Journal of Nursing Studies 20(1): 45-54.
Morgan D (1983) Nursing home personnel: education opportunities, Dimensions in Health Service 60(12): 20-21.
Pearson A (1985) 'Introducing new norms in a nursing unit and an analysis of the process of change', unpublished PhD thesis. Department of Social Science and Administration, University of London, Goldsmith College.
Rhys Hearn C (1981) Experience with the Rhys Hearn geriatric workload package - a regional survey, Nursing Times 26 April.
Senate Select Committee on Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes (1985) Private nursing homes in Australia: their conduct, administration and ownership. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.
Smith SP, Jepson V and Perloff E (1982) Attitudes of nursing care providers toward elderly patients. Nursing and Health Care (February): 92-97.
Spagnoli A, Avanzini F, Foresti G, Pirone F and Tognoni G (1986) Homes for the elderly in Liguria. Social Science and Medicine 23(6): 629-633.
Woolliscroft JO, Calhoun JG, Maxim BR and Wolf FM (1984) Medical education in facilities for the elderly. Journal of the American Medical Association 252(24): 3382-3385.
eContent Home
