An Aging Nursing Workforce: Thematic Analysis from the Nurstory Project

Abstract Background: Nursing in the United States of America is an aging workforce. This study sought to better understand the lived experience of aging nurses. Because nurses work in systems where other forms of interpersonal power dynamics may influence internalized and external stereotype an approach based on intersectional theory was applied. Methods: A qualitative thematic narrative analysis of an existing data set of first-person digital stories in the Nurstory project, authored by a group of nurses, was the data source. An emergent coding method was applied. The collection of five digital stories were analyzed. Results: All stories were first person accounts of experiences that represented their internalized reflections and elements of ageism in how their age interacted with their work environment. Dominant themes included: 1) Role constriction 2) Strength 3) Tired and (re)Tired 4) Age perceived and 5)Loneliness. Conclusions: These aging nursing stories add to the contextual layers of the aging healthcare workplace and aging nursing workforce. These individual experiences offer a nuanced understanding of the internalized responses to aging and ageism. These stories highlight socially constructed and socially reinforced attitudes that are complicated by the personal and occupational expectations of nurse’s work, their role and embedded hierarchies in healthcare. Stories such as these are important individual and collective indicators of lived experiences that offer a deeper understanding into the intersections of social identity and aging, that when listened to, can offer insight and a way forward in addressing the stereotype, discrimination and social inequities of ageism.


RETIREMENT FINANCIAL PLANING AND LIFE SATISFACTION
Mengya Wang, 1 Suzanne Bartholomae, 2 and Jonathan Fox, 1 , 1. Iowa State University,ames,Iowa,United States,2. Iowa State University,Ames,Iowa,United States Retirement has been considered as a major transition in one's life. Financial security in retirement is a major concern for many Americans. Evidence has shown that being financially prepared for retirement could has a significant, positive impact on one's life satisfaction. Employing data from the 2012 and 2018 National Financial Capability Study (N=1023), this study analyzes the relationship between participants' retirement planning in 2012 and their financial satisfaction in 2018. An Ordinary Least Squares regression is used in the current study. This study found relatively low retirement preparedness levels (retirement planning, retirement saving, retirement plan: employer-based or individually held, investment) among the participants in 2012. Based on the descriptive results, adults closest to retirement (ages 55 to 64) are more likely to be planning compared to the other groups, as are adults who were married, highly educated, males, and white. According to the liner regression results, this study found that adults who had a retirement savings goal, had a retirement plan (employer-based or individually held), made regular contributions to retirement plans, and owned investments in 2012 are more likely to be satisfied with their personal financial condition in 2018. As expected, individuals with higher incomes, larger net worth, and those who are older are significantly more likely to be financial satisfied. However, even after controlling for these variables, results show that planning does indeed impact the level of financial satisfaction. Our findings highlight the importance of policies and programs to support Americans with retirement planning.

AGEISM AND ATTITUDES TOWARD AGING AN AGING NURSING WORKFORCE: THEMATIC ANALYSIS FROM THE NURSTORY PROJECT Raeann LeBlanc, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Royalston, Massachusetts, United States
Background: Nursing in the United States of America is an aging workforce. This study sought to better understand the lived experience of aging nurses. Because nurses work in systems where other forms of interpersonal power dynamics may influence internalized and external stereotype an approach based on intersectional theory was applied.
Methods: A qualitative thematic narrative analysis of an existing data set of first-person digital stories in the Nurstory project, authored by a group of nurses, was the data source. An emergent coding method was applied. The collection of five digital stories were analyzed.
Results: All stories were first person accounts of experiences that represented their internalized reflections and elements of ageism in how their age interacted with their work environment. Dominant themes included: 1) Role constriction 2) Strength 3) Tired and (re)Tired 4) Age perceived and 5)Loneliness.
Conclusions: These aging nursing stories add to the contextual layers of the aging healthcare workplace and aging nursing workforce. These individual experiences offer a nuanced understanding of the internalized responses to aging and ageism. These stories highlight socially constructed and socially reinforced attitudes that are complicated by the personal and occupational expectations of nurse's work, their role and embedded hierarchies in healthcare. Stories such as these are important individual and collective indicators of lived experiences that offer a deeper understanding into the intersections of social identity and aging, that when listened to, can offer insight and a way forward in addressing the stereotype, discrimination and social inequities of ageism. Sarah Marrs, Courtney O'Hara, Ruth Anne Young, Miranda Yelvington, Deijah Patterson, Annie Rhodes, and Edward Ansello, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia, United States Abuse in later life is experienced by 10% of adults over age 60 (Acierno et al., 2010). Unfortunately, it is estimated that for every one reported case, around 20 remain unreported (APA, 2012). A primary reason for this disparity is the absence of training provided to professionals working at the frontline of elder abuse, such as law enforcement professionals, health care professionals, and aging and victim service providers (e.g., Rose et al., 2016). This leaves the workforce best positioned to intervene in cases of abuse in later life lacking knowledge around what constitutes the Innovation in Aging, 2021, Vol. 5, No. S1