DUBBO may lead the way in the recruitment of registered nurses by aged care facilities in country communities.
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A study recently launched by Charles Sturt University (CSU) at Catholic Healthcare's Holy Spirit aged care facility has already captured the attention of another facility and service providers who want to get involved.
The study, called Expanding non-traditional, quality clinical placements in an aged care setting in western NSW, is testing research showing the recruitment of nursing graduates is "facilitated if a student has a positive and supportive workplace learning experience".
A shortage of graduates in the aged care sector is being blamed on multiple factors including less pay and lack of supervision.
CSU senior lecturer Dr Maree Bernoth announced the study on September 28.
This week she reported that it was working "wonderfully well" and paid tribute to the "spirit of co-operation, spirit of excitement even" at Dubbo.
She said CSU nursing students and Holy Spirit residents and staff were enjoying "interactive learning".
Holy Spirit's staff are also being taught how to mentor students on placement at the facility.
"You could appreciate that this could be rolled out in other rural areas," Dr Bernoth said.
"Instead of saying we can't attract nurses, let's work out ways we can do it together as a community."
Dr Bernoth rejects that the difficulties faced by aged care facilities in employing registered nurses is entirely about money and tells of students who are eager to care for the elderly.
"The other thing that stops them is when a student graduates they need to work under the direction of a registered nurse for about 12 months," she said.
"In aged care you can't do that because there's usually only one registered nurse on, and that would be the student."
Dr Bernoth is calling on other interested parties to join the study that will rely on the "good will" of participants when a small amount of funding runs out at the end of next month.
The study is being "guided" by an advisory committee made up of aged care service providers at Dubbo.
Dr Bernoth said CSU was looking at offering "subsidised places" in its Master of Nursing course to registered nurses working in the aged care sector who wanted to improve their knowledge and skills.