Managers' perception of older nurses and midwives and their contribution to the workplace-A qualitative descriptive study.

Aims And Objectives: The aim of this study was to explore healthcare managers' perceptions about older nurses' and midwives' and their contribution to the workplace.

Design: A qualitative descriptive methodology.

Method: Twenty healthcare managers working in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were collected between April 2019 and April 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: All healthcare managers said older nurses and midwives contributed to the workplace through their experience and knowledge. Managers viewed them as a different type of worker and while there were some positive aspects to this, it was mostly negative. Although managers identified a broad age range for the older nurses or midwives, there was a common perception that if they were no longer able to perform their duties, they should leave the workforce.

Conclusion: Healthcare managers' perceptions towards older nurses and midwives are mostly negative, and their understanding of older workers' contribution is contradictory and poor. These negative views co-exist with the lack of agreement on who is the older worker, which explain the reluctance of healthcare organizations to invest in their older workforce. Future research is needed to better understand the unique contribution of older nurses and midwives in healthcare and how they can be supported at work.

Impact: The global ageing population will result in a rise in complex age-related health issues and will require an experienced and knowledgeable workforce. Given the greater experience of older nurses and midwives they are an important part of the health workforce. Yet managers' perception of the contribution by older nurses and midwives were often negative. The findings of this study highlight the need for organizational change so that the contribution of older nurses and midwives is recognized and supported by managers.