Older community nurses: perspectives and prospects.

In common with the nursing workforces of the developed world, the NHS nursing workforce is ageing. Community nurses, in particular, tend to be older than their acute counterparts and this ageing could have a greater impact on this section of the workforce than on nurses in other sectors. This article reports on a study into the options, decisions and outcomes for nurses over the age of 50 years in the NHS. The study was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation as part of a larger program of work. Older nurses are a valuable part of the NHS workforce, being a repository of skill and wisdom. While this is generally recognized, and there are polices to support this, there is little recognition or action within the NHS. This study found that older nurses would like to see greater flexibility being shown towards them in terms of their working hours and conditions of work, without harming their pension prospects. They would like to see return to practice courses and continuing professional development more geared towards their needs. Furthermore, they would like more information about their options. The article includes the experiences of some older nurses working in the community who remain, have left or have returned to the NHS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]