Despite the rapid aging of the world's population, many countries are experiencing difficulty in recruiting nurses to work with older people. A literature review was conducted regarding the career preferences of undergraduate nursing students from seven different countries. The literature review has identified that gerontological nursing does not feature highly as a career goal. Notably, this has been the situation for the past decade. There is no indication that the situation is going to change at any time in the future unless some serious decisions are made at professional, health service, community, and government levels. This literature review has identified the reasons why undergraduate nurses are not choosing gerontological nursing as a career, what has been done in an attempt to address the problem, and what else may be done.

Objectives: This literature review was undertaken to evaluate undergraduate nurses' attitudes and perspectives toward older people and perceptions of working with older people. The objectives were to (1) identify if undergraduate nurses hold positive or negative attitudes and perspectives toward older people and perceptions of working with older people, and (2) determine if positive attitudes, perspectives and perceptions can be established, maintained and improved with curriculum activities. Results and Conclusions:The analysis of 32 studies revealed that undergraduate nurses' attitudes, perspectives and perceptions are positive and it is recommended this be the starting point for the development of curriculum activities and future research to maintain and improve this result. Finally, the limitations of recent studies are identified and a research agenda for future studies proposed. KEY WORDSnursing education, nursing student attitudes, nursing student preference, older adults, gerontological nursing, aged care, baccalaureate nursing programs, ageism

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The attainment of a work-life balance is an important issue for recruitment, retention and workforce planning. This paper aims to report on the free text data provided by the aged-care sector nurses around perceptions of important work-life issues. Data were written responses of aged-care nurses to the open-ended request at the end of a survey, which asked them to list up to five political/social/environmental issues concerning them outside of their work. For aged-care nurses, when asked to list political/social/environmental issues they were concerned about outside of work in late 2007, there emerged considered issues around work and life. Among the top eight themes there is an intriguing balance between the themes work, industrial relations, aged care/elder care and health-care services compared with the themes environment, water, societal values and housing. Qualitative insights into the political/social/environmental issues aged-care nurses are concerned about outside of your work suggest their desire for a labour/life or work/life harmony. Aged-care nurses place an equal importance on the nature of labour and the basics of life. The findings provide information for aged-care sector managers and workforce planners on areas in need of consideration to recruit and retain a workforce within aged care.

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