The nurse’s role in building resilience
The Selwyn Institute’s 2019 Gerontology Nursing Conference explored vulnerability and frailty in older people. Particularly the role nurses play in building resilience and the capability to ‘bounce back’ from illness, injury or other of life’s setbacks.
This is an important topic for a number of reasons.
The United Nations has thrown down the challenge of understanding the changes in the way we age. With the specific aim of reducing vulnerability and promoting resilience as we grow older.
As health care professionals, and those committed to supporting older people age well, what are the various ‘faces’ that represent vulnerability in our work and in our communities?
Are we on the ‘same page’ as the United Nations in understanding, and embracing, the challenges and solutions?
Is frailty, now recognised as a key factor underpinning a range of health problems in later life, the main issue for nurses working in aged care?
Alternatively, are there other factors where health care professionals need to take a leading role? Both in doing the ‘right’ thing and managing situations where something has gone wrong?
Finally, as the people on the ‘front line’ caring for the vulnerable, what are the resources nurses need, or can rely on, to keep themselves resilient.
The Gerontology Nursing conference is designed to help professionals recognise and reduce vulnerability and the risks it poses for older people – whether in residential aged care settings or in the wider community. The focus will be on knowledge sharing and providing practical pathways. As well as speakers from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, there will be opportunities to voice your own questions or concerns.
