Exploring the experiences of undergraduate nursing students on nutrition with older people : a mixed methods study

Abstract

High prevalence of undernutrition in older people in healthcare facilities remains a concern globally and in Australia. Aligning with the predicted increase of the older population, there will be a greater demand for nursing care. Nurses as frontline workers are ideally placed to provide nutritional care and maintain nutrition of older people in healthcare facilities. However, there is a paucity of research done to explore the educational preparedness of undergraduate nurses in nutrition with older people. The original contribution to knowledge is this is the first study to explore undergraduate nursing students' experiences on nutrition with older people through a phenomenological lens and within the context of undergraduate curricula. This study aimed to explore undergraduate nursing students' experiences within the current undergraduate curricular practices on nutrition with older people in Australia. The key study findings generated through triangulation are: developing understanding through compassionate care and a person-centred approach, professional maturity through informal learning, and lack of educational preparedness. The current study evidence shows that while undergraduate nursing students benefited to a certain extent from informal and formal learning, they are not adequately prepared by the undergraduate curricula to provide nutritional care to older people. A well-structured educational programme synchronising clinical and theoretical components could support students in their learning and enhance knowledge leading to positive nutritional engagement with older people. Findings can add to international discussions in the literature, related to the education of undergraduate nursing students on nutrition with older people.

Date of Award	2019
Original language	English