Austrian Nurses’ Positive Opinions on Geriatric Care and Their Ideas for Tackling Challenges in Caring for the Ageing Population– A Modified Focus Group Study in Long-Term Care

Background: As the demand for long-term care increases due to a global ageing population, ensuring continuous and high-quality geriatric nursing is crucial. However, geriatric nursing faces challenges such as workforce shortages, high workload, and high emotional demand, which can impact quality of care, job satisfaction, and intentions to leave the profession. Little is known about nurses’ opinions on geriatric nursing and their ideas for addressing challenges in caring for the ageing population. This study aims to explore what nurses in Austria value about working in geriatric nursing and their ideas on addressing challenges in geriatric nursing. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted using a modified focus group approach that included freelisting interviews and the nominal group technique. Two focus groups in the form of workshops were held in 2025 with 12 nurses working in long-term care in Austria. The freelisting data were analysed using salience analysis, while the ranked ideas generated in the nominal group technique were analysed using Van Breda’s method of ranking. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise participant demographics. Results: Nurses valued the appreciation they received from older persons they care for and colleagues, the opportunity to work within the family and related persons of older persons, and their ability to provide individualized and person-centred care. A skilled geriatric nurse was described as having empathy, sensitivity, and broad expertise in health care. The three highest-ranked ideas for strengthening geriatric nursing were (1) Promoting and strengthening older persons’ self-care abilities (e.g. providing holistic, individualised care), (2) Coordinate care for the older persons between services, and (3) Promoting and strengthening the team. Conclusions: These findings suggest that strengthening geriatric nursing requires structural improvements, enhanced collaboration across healthcare sectors, and recognition of nurses’ competencies. Implementing a supportive work environment, optimising skill- and grade-mix approaches, and listening to nurse’s expert insights may contribute to sustainable and high-quality long-term care for the aging population. Future research should consider a co-research design to plan target group and setting specific interventions in geriatric nursing based on nurses' ideas.