NZNO members aged 50 years and above are being emailed a survey seeking their views about their career plans and retirement.
How to access the survey
All NZNO members aged 50-plus will be sent an email about the survey, which will include an information sheet, survey link and QR code.
You can also download the participant information sheet here and access the survey itself here, or via this QR code:
The purpose of the survey, being conducted by a joint NZNO/University of Otago research team, is to find out why and when late-career nurses and caregivers are planning to retire and/or change their working patterns.
The researchers say the aim is to identify the profile, views and needs of late-career nurses, and to determine what strategies a workplace could use to support them. The data gathered could also potentially assist with workforce planning.
The survey is a repeat of a workforce study of late-career nurses done by NZNO in 2012. The earlier survey collected a large amount of important workforce data. However since then, the research team says, there have been substantial socio-economic, cultural, health care and community changes.
“Repeating this survey will enable comparison of the two data-sets and importantly, provide insights from late-career nurses today on how the workplace can respond to and accommodate their needs.”
The research team consists of Raewyn Lesa, an aged care clinical manager with links to postgraduate nursing at the University of Otago; Lorraine Ritchie, a nurse consultant for Health NZ Te Whatu Ora — Southern, and a professional practice fellow at the University of Otago; NZNO researcher Sue Gasquoine; and NZNO professional nursing adviser Wendy Blair.
Lead researcher Lorraine Ritchie said replicating the 2012 survey would be fascinating as so much had changed in the profession since then. Older nurses could face a range of work issues such as ageism, reduced health and stamina, and keeping up with technology. The survey wanted to find out how these issues affected them, and whether more flexible work practices could help retain these experienced nurses.
She said it was important to find out whether older nurses were treated differently, and to find ways for the different generations of nurses to work together better.
Nurses and caregivers who wish to participate should read the participant information sheet and then fill in the anonymous survey. They will be asked at the end of the survey if they wish to participate further in the study by agreeing to an interview.
The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete.