New Graduate Nurses and Dementia Care In Acute Care

Abstract

Background: With the increasing older adult population, new graduate nurses will be providing care for patients with dementia more frequently and should be supported to care for this population during their transition period. Purpose: The purpose of this thesis was to explore the experiences of new graduate nurses providing care for patients with dementia in acute care environments. Methods: An interpretive descriptive qualitative study explored eleven Ontario new graduate nurses’ experiences providing dementia care in acute care environments. A thematic analysis was conducted. Findings: The thematic analysis resulted in three themes and several sub-themes: building of vision and values, clash of vision and values, and “make do with what you have”. Discussion and Conclusion: Facilitators to providing dementia care in acute care were supportive colleagues and early exposure to dementia care. The barriers identified were similar to the barriers experienced by nurses in the literature.