The staffing crisis plaguing the aged care sector could be solved by the national adoption a new placement program, a University of the Sunshine Coast lecturer says.
After a successful pilot, a transition-to-practice program run by UniSC and Lutheran Services is being expanded to include two other aged care facilities in the region.
Senior nursing lecturer John Rosenberg said two out of five nursing students went on to work at the aged care facility after doing their clinical placement there.
"We're all well aware of some of the endemic problems in the aged care sector and certainly the royal commission has told us a great deal about some of those systemic problems," he said.
"Our response is addressing one small part of the problem with workforce in aged care, but it's the bit that we can do.
"We can prepare our student nurses for careers as registered nurses in aged care."
As part of the program, Bachelor of Nursing students in their final year are paired with registered nurses at the aged care facility.
"A lot of people think that aged care is the easy option for registered nurses, but in fact aged care is complex care," Dr Rosenburg said.
"Registered nurses in aged care need a really wide set of skills that they can use in a setting that doesn't have a whole hospital behind it on site.
"They've got to actually be quite autonomous in the way that they work."
Vital service
Lutheran Services manager Gillian Hyett said the students helped satisfy a critical demand for registered nurses being felt across the country.
"That's across the board all health care industries, not just aged care," Ms Hyett said.
"The challenge really began right back at the beginning of COVID with issues of outbreaks and facilities and a number of other issues, so it has been ongoing and extensive.
"We're really looking at innovative ways we can encourage people into the industry and support them because it's such a vital service."
A total of 24 students will be selected for the program this year, at three facilities across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie.
Registered nurse Wendy Williams participated in last year's pilot program at Gympie aged care facility Cooinda Lutheran services for eight weeks.
"Aged care, in particular palliative care, was a career goal when I began my studies," she said.
"It requires a lot of critical thinking to put your practices and education together to work out the optimal care for residents with complex needs, and that is ultimately hugely rewarding."
Ms Williams said the transition to becoming an employee after her placement was seamless.
"I've had some really excellent contacts with nurses and carers in the profession who have just a wealth of experience and are always really willing to share that experience," she said.
"But also the diversity of the residents that we look after — they've had quite incredible, different life experiences and I think it's that relationship-based nursing that drew me to aged care."
