Undergraduate Placements in Geriatric Care Facilities: Students Gaining Experience With Challenging/Responsive...

Undergraduate nursing students may experience challenging behaviors in residents during their clinical placement in geriatric long-term care (GLTC) facilities.

Bachelor of Nursing students participated in an anonymous online questionnaire (n = 116).

The students witnessed a wide range of challenging behaviors, also referred to as responsive behaviors, in GLTC residents. The most frequent behaviors included agitation/restlessness, repetitive talk, and wandering. Although behaviors such as physical aggression and disinhibited sexual behavior were experienced less frequently, students found these behaviors the most distressing. Students felt ill-prepared to manage these behaviors, which was associated with higher levels of distress.

The students demonstrated good theoretical knowledge about responsive behaviors, but the lack of personal experience in managing such behaviors left the students feeling ill-prepared and distressed. Incorporating the opportunity to experience behaviors in a supported environment, such as in simulation, could reduce student distress and increase their sense of competency. [J Nurs Educ. 2017;56(10):623-627.].