Challenges faced by older nurses in Singapore: a mixed methods study

Challenges faced by older nurses in Singapore: a mixed methods study

Background In Singapore, employees aged 62–65 can continue to be employed if they meet the re‐employment eligibility criteria. This policy, coupled with an ageing workforce, calls for age‐friendly initiatives, specific to work‐related challenges faced by older nurses. Aim To determine work‐related c...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International nursing review Vol. 64; no. 4; pp. 502 - 510
Main Authors: Ang, S.Y., Ayoob, S.B.M., Hussain, N.B.S., Uthaman, T., Adenan, H., Chiang, P., Ong, L.T., Fong, M.K., Ostbye, T.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01-12-2017
Subjects:
Adaptation, Psychological
Age
Aged
Aging
Aging - psychology
Challenges
Computers
Continuing education
Coping
Coping strategies
Employment
Employment - psychology
Employment - standards
Female
Humans
Information technology
Labor force
Male
Medical technology
Middle age
Middle Aged
Mixed methods research
New technology
Nurses
Nursing
Nursing Staff, Hospital - psychology
Nursing Staff, Hospital - standards
Older Nurses
Older people
Organizational Culture
Pain
Qualitative research
Quantitative analysis
Questionnaires
Race
Retention
Retention, Psychology
Retirement
Re‐Employment
Singapore
Surveys and Questionnaires
Teams
Visual impairment
Work
Working conditions
Workplace - organization & administration
Workplace - psychology
Workplaces
Singapore
Older Nurses
Singapore
Retention
Re-Employment
Challenges
Retirement
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Description
Summary:Background In Singapore, employees aged 62–65 can continue to be employed if they meet the re‐employment eligibility criteria. This policy, coupled with an ageing workforce, calls for age‐friendly initiatives, specific to work‐related challenges faced by older nurses. Aim To determine work‐related challenges faced by older nurses. Methods A mixed method sequential explanatory study was conducted with nurses, aged 50 and above, working in a healthcare cluster in Singapore. In the quantitative phase, a questionnaire was administered to 534 nurses to elicit work‐related challenges, then in‐depth interviews with 30 nurses were carried out to help explain why certain tasks and work circumstances became harder. Results Results of the survey indicated that the top three challenges were coping with changes, working with computers and reading labels. Place of work, salary range, gender and race were significantly associated with different work‐related challenges. Five themes emerged from the qualitative data: physical demands of work and workload, new technology, need for further education, working with younger nurses and in intercultural teams, and changing public expectations and professional image. Discussion and conclusion The study supports the current literature on the challenges older nurses face with technological advancement. However, older nurses in our study reported less aches and pain as compared to that reported elsewhere. There is a need for specific strategies that will address changes in work processes and environment in order to retain older nurses. Implications for nursing and nursing policy When devising age‐friendly work improvement initiatives, it is important for nurse leaders to factor in the needs of nurses working in different care environments, who are of different ranks, or are from different ethnic backgrounds.
Bibliography:None to declare.
Funding
This research was supported by a research grant from SingHealth Foundation (a non‐profit grantmaking organization that provides funds to support healthcare programmes in Singapore).
Conflict of interest
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SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
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content type line 23
ISSN:0020-8132
1466-7657
DOI:10.1111/inr.12348