Derya Adibelli
Adnan Menderes University, Turkey
Title: Difficulties experienced by nurses in geriatric patient care
Biography
Biography: Derya Adibelli
Abstract
The average length of life in societies has increased with the increase in the level of welfare, which in turn led to a rise in the rate of the older people in the general population. As a result of these demographic changes with respect to the increase in the average lifespan, restrictions occur in the daily care activities of individuals, and older people require more social, economic and health protection as well as better nursing care on various levels. In geriatric patient care, as in all age groups, nurses obtain patient’s health history, determine his/her needs, develops a comprehensive care plan, provides treatment and care and evaluates the results. While carrying all these tasks through and fulfilling their responsibilities, nurses experience several problems and difficulties in patient care in their work environment. The difficulties experienced by nurses in geriatric patient care include the inadequacy of physical conditions and technical equipment in hospitals, care problems experienced due to patients’ physical restrictions, administrative difficulties, communication problems experienced with the patient or family caregiver, difficulties arising from insufficient knowledge, skills and experience in geriatric patient care, prejudice of older patients and family caregivers toward hospital environment and health personnel and not being appreciated for the care given to patients. These problems and difficulties experienced by nurses give rise to an increase in workforce loss, care moves and job suspension as well as in early retirement rates among nurses, a decrease in work efficiency, delays in returns to work, and an increase in medical treatment costs. Additionally, nurses experience physical problems and psychosocial problems due to the difficulties they faced in geriatric patient care. Realizing and solving these difficulties will enable nurses to be more satisfied with their job and thus enable them to provide patients with a more satisfactory care service.