title: The juxtaposition of ageing and nursing: the challenges and enablers of continuing to work in the latter stages of a nursing career.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify why some nurses cope well with continuing to work as they age and others struggle.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  There is a need to understand better the challenges older nurses face and how they manage them.
  
  
  METHODS
  Secondary analysis of existing data.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data collected in two separate studies were analysed. The first study (2012) was an online, anonymous survey that collected free text (qualitative) and categorical data (n = 3273, 57·6% response rate). The second (2014) was an explorative, descriptive study that collected data through focus groups and interviews (n = 46). Qualitative data from both studies were analysed using David Thomas' () general inductive approach. Research Ethics Committee approval was gained for the 2012 and 2014 studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data were categorised in two themes: the challenges of ageing and nursing; and factors that enable nurses to continue to practice. Physical challenges, fatigue, guilt, ageism and demands to complete continuing education were considered challenges. Maintaining personal fitness, self care, flexible working and a strong belief in their ability to contribute to the profession were present in older nurses who continued to practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  While older nurses face growing physical and cognitive challenges as they age, they demonstrate strong resilience in the face of these challenges. It is recommended nurses seek support from their workplaces early to address challenges. Organisations must address ageism in the workplace and provide practical interventions such as supporting changes to work hours, shifting nurses to less physical roles and providing career planning to support resilience in older workers.
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Wellington, New Zealand.|Graduate School of Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clendon
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Wellington, New Zealand.|Graduate School of Nursing and Midwifery, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Léonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology*; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014937:Work / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: New Zealand; ageing; career; nursing; older nurses; resilience; workforce