Dmitry Viderman

School of Nursing Science, The Academic College,
Israel

Abstract Title:

Geriatric Nursing: Choice or Destiny?

Biography:

Dmitry is a registered nurse with over 20 years of professional experience. His career has been primarily dedicated to the care of older adults in geriatric and orthopedic departments. For more than a decade, he has been actively engaged in nursing education across various academic and clinical settings. He currently serves at The Academic College of Tel-Aviv Yaffo, Israel, where he heads a unique program for ultra-Orthodox men in nursing studies. Dmitry is pursuing his doctoral degree at Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Ia?i, Romania, in the Faculty of Sociology.

 

 

Research Interests:

Nursing is a vital profession with a central role in patient care and health promotion. Yet, the demanding nature of the profession contributes to burnout among nursing students, influencing both their motivation and the overall healthcare workforce. Research highlights that clinical exposure significantly shapes career trajectories. In China, exposure to diverse populations correlated with students motivation to specialize in certain fields (Cheng et al., 2015). Israeli studies similarly found that students often prefer hospital settings, perceived as more challenging, over community care (Sela-Vilensky et al., 2020). Broader societal perceptions of aging further impact career choices, with negative stereotypes discouraging interest in geriatric nursing (Haron et al., 2013). Moreover, the impact of formal training on career decisions remains contested, with some evidence suggesting limited influence (ibid). Students frequently describe geriatric care as emotionally taxing and repetitive, a perception linked to minimal exposure to older adults. Research indicates declining interest in geriatric care as students progress in their studies (Carlson et al., 2015). A Turkish study revealed that while 60.2% of students expressed willingness to work in geriatric nursing, only 18.5% enrolled in relevant courses. Those with personal connections to elderly individuals demonstrated more positive attitudes (Turgay et al., 2015). These findings suggest that tailored education and training in gerontological nursing can shift student attitudes. Promoting gerontological nursing, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, may improve quality of care and foster healthy aging worldwide (Abudu-Birresborn et al., 2019).