Nursing students’ attitudes towards older people and future career choices in Macao-A pilot study

Abstract

Background: As global ageing, Macao also faces challenges with regards to an aging population. Not many nursing students are willing to choose gerontological nursing (GN) as a career choice. This pilot study was conducted on a small sample of Macao nursing students to assess nursing students’ attitudes towards older people and their future career choices. Moreover, this pilot study is aimed to validate the survey questionnaire for the further study.Methods: A cross-sectional survey to explore 30 Macao nursing students’ attitudes towards older people and future career choices. Kogan’s attitudes towards older people scale (KAOP) was adopted in this study.Results: About 33.3% nursing students agreed to work in GN after graduation. Only 6.7% participants chose “aged care institute” as their first choice for future career. Participants have higher mean scores of KAOP that indicate more positive attitudes towards older people. “GN practice experience” and “personal preference” are confirmed as contributors for nursing students towards GN in this study.Conclusions: Macao nursing students have positive attitudes towards older people but not many of them would choose GN as future career. This pilot study provided knowledge to current nursing educators and government for the situation among nursing students in Macao.

Career Preferences among Nursing Students: A Cross-Sessional Study

“…The findings of this study are consistent with several studies that most nursing students chose pediatric nursing” ( Birks et al, 2010 ; Hunt et al, 2020 ; McCann et al, 2010 ; Stevens, 2011 ), “medical and surgical nursing” ( Birks et al, 2010 ; Hovey et al, 2017 ; Hsu & Ling, 2019 ; McCann et al, 2010 ; Stevens, 2011 ) and obstetric and gynecological nursing ( Birks et al, 2010 ) as the favorite career preferences.…”

“…Nursing students chose “medical and surgical nursing” as the favorite career preference was consistent with the previous study ( Hsu & Ling, 2019 ; Kloster et al, 2007 ; McCann et al, 2010 ; van Iersel et al, 2016 ) and the reason may be due to not losing skill and more value with high-tech settings ( Alexander et al, 2020 ; Hsu & Ling, 2019 ) in clinical setting.…”

“…This instrument was a self-administered survey questionnaire including demographic characteristics and career preferences. The survey questionnaire was designed to explore nursing students’ career preferences and validated in the previous study ( Hsu & Ling, 2019 ).…”

“…Most nursing students chose pediatric nursing ( Birks et al, 2010 ; Hunt et al, 2020 ; McCann et al, 2010 ; Stevens, 2011 ), obstetric and gynecological nursing ( Birks et al, 2010 ), emergency nursing ( Birks et al, 2010 ; Hunt et al, 2020 ) and medical and surgical nursing ( Birks et al, 2010 ; Hovey et al, 2017 ; Stevens, 2011 ) as preferred future careers. Studies concluded that most nursing students chose to work in the hospital after graduation for the complex nursing knowledge and skills, especially for more attractive and challenging work in ‘medical-surgical nursing’ ( Hsu & Ling, 2019 ; McCann et al, 2010 ). Nursing students also expressed the least preference working in mental health nursing at the hospital setting ( van Iersel et al, 2016 ).…”

Attitudes and work preferences toward older people among Malay undergraduate nursing students

“…24,25 It was reported that although nursing students have a positive attitude toward older people, they are not interested in aged care. 26,27 The conflicting findings might be attributable to methodological differences such as various ethnicities in prior research studies.…”