Emergency nurses attitudes towards older people in the emergency department: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

To report nurses’ attitudes towards older people in the emergency department (ED). Background: A nurse’s attitude towards an older person can have an effect on nurses’ work practices and interactions and can result in adverse outcomes for the older person. Design: A national cross-sectional survey using a previously validated instrument Older Person in Acute Care Survey (OPACS) was conducted to measure emergency nurses’ attitudes towards older people in their care. Methods: Members of the College of Emergency Nursing Australasia (CENA) were invited to participate in the study. There were 371 (39%) completed surveys returned. Results: The OPACS survey identified that ED nurses have positive attitudes towards older people in the ED. Conclusion: The implications for practice are clinically significant because positive attitudes can result in prevention of discrimination and marginalisation of the older person in the ED.