What is an Aged Care Nurse?
An aged care nurse is responsible for the health and wellbeing of Australia’s elderly population, who are no longer capable of caring for themselves. For the most part, aged care nurses work in nursing homes, hospitals and private residences. It is a demanding but challenging job, that involves a wide variety of tasks and responsibilities. With the growing population, the demand for aged care nurses is on the rise, making it a secure career choice for the aspiring nurse.
Duties and responsibilities
Aged care nurses can be based out of home, an aged-care facility or within a range of health care settings. Regardless of where you work, your duties will typically revolve include:
- Administration of medication.
- Documentation of vital signs, medication intake, patient assessment, etc.
- Assisting with meal consumption
- Family and patient education.
- Assisting patients in the bathroom.
- Changing bed sheets and clothing.
- Infection control and prevention.
- Palliative care, restorative care and pain management.
- Assisting in admission and help ease the transition for patients and their families.
- Liaise with patients, family, medical team, and other residences in the facility.
Depending on where you are working, you may also be required to assist with cooking, cleaning, and doing the laundry.
Skills and experience
An aged care nurse must be ready to cope with emotional, physical, and mental challenges in caring for the elderly. Compassion and sensitivity to the needs of the patient is a must. They are often physically frail, and a number of them experience confusion or disorientation. You have to be caring and supportive, as well as respectful when dealing with your patient. An aged care nurse should have at least 1-2 years of nursing experience with exposure to an aged care setting. Some of the skills required for this profession include:
- Organisational
- Critical thinking and problem-solving.
- Compassion and empathy.
- Excellent documentation skills.
- Communication skills.
- Emotional resilience.
Most of your patients will have nutritional needs. You must have a solid understanding of health and nutrition suited for a geriatric patient. A sharp assessment skill will help you closely identify their health needs and mental status.
You have to be physically fit and capable of standing for long hours. From doing basic chores to complex pain management. Aged care nursing is for someone who wishes to provide more than just the standard nursing care to his/her patient. The elderly can be sensitive, so it’s important to deliver care without making them feel like they are a burden.
Aged Care Qualifications
There are several qualifications that can help you start your career in aged care nursing.
Certificate in Aged Care Nursing
The simplest way is to undertake a Certificate in Aged Care Nursing at a TAFE or RTO, which will teach you the basic principles of caring for the elderly. This qualification will allow you to work as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN), or a Personal Care Attendant (PCA) in an aged care setting. These positions are not formally recognised as being a true nurse, but are an essential component of the aged care workforce.
Diploma in Nursing
You may also become an aged care nurse by completing a Diploma in Nursing, which typically takes 18 months of full-time study and includes clinical placement. This course will introduce you to the general theory and practical skills required to be an enrolled nurse. You will study areas such as wound treatment, related healthcare law, how to assess health information, first aid, nursing plan development, medication monitoring, and infection control procedures.
Bachelor of Nursing
The third pathway for those looking to be an aged care nurse involves studying a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing (or equivalent). Through this qualification, you can apply to become a registered nurse (RN) and will allow you to work across a number of nursing specialisations, including aged care nursing. Registered nurses deliver a higher level of care and will usually be responsible for the supervision of assistant and enrolled nurses.
Postgraduate study
Experienced aged care nurse may choose to further their education by taking a postgraduate qualification such as a Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care (Aged Care Nursing), Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Aged Care), or a Master of Nursing (Aged Care). These advanced courses may take 1-2 years to complete and are available both on-campus and online.
Aged Care Nurse Wages
The salaries of aged care workers can vary greatly and depend primarily on the person’s level of education. Aged care workers without a diploma or a degree, may expect between $19 – $27 per hour, while registered nurses will earn an average wage of around $32 per hour (or $65,000 salary). At both levels, the more experience you have and the facility you choose to work in can make a substantial difference in your expected income.
Career prospects
As Australia’s elderly population continues to grow, more families are becoming reliant on aged care workers to take care of their loved ones. As a result, job opportunities are expected to rise by 18.4% by 2023.
Most nurses are scared to venture to aged care because of the fear of losing their nursing skills while taking care of the elderly. This is a myth. About 170,000 are admitted in an aged care home and, although most of them are healthy, there are still some patients who suffer from chronic illness, dementia, and depression. You have enough duties and responsibilities that will challenge your capabilities in providing holistic care to your patients.
You have the advantage of getting employed in a variety of professional settings. Your skills will be needed in hospitals, aged care homes, as well as the community and personal residences. You can increase your desirability in these institutions by taking a more in-depth specialisation such as occupational therapy, mental health, and oncology.
Aged care nursing is a challenging role and predicted to be one of the booming careers in Australia. If you are looking for a rewarding profession and wish to make a difference in people’s lives, aged care nursing is the profession for you.