Perceptions about organizational ageism among undergraduate nursing students: cross-sectional study

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the perception of undergraduate nursing students regarding organizational ageism. Method: descriptive, cross-sectional, and quantitative study conducted between September and November 2023 with 166 nursing undergraduates from a public university in Rio de Janeiro, using a sociodemographic form and the Ageism Scale in the Organizational Context (EACO), which consists of 13 items distributed across the domains of negative and positive attitudes. Data were analyzed by using both descriptive and Spearman's Rank Correlation Coefficient inferential analyses. The Research Ethics Committee approved the research protocol. Results: the mean age of participants was 22.8 years; 83.1% were women, 54.8% self-identified as White, and 94.6% were single. According to the EACO, 83.1% did not display negative attitudes toward older professionals, while 42.8% expressed positive attitudes. An inverse correlation, although weak, was identified between the period studied and positive and negative attitudes (p<0.05), suggesting a decrease in positive attitudes throughout the undergraduate course. Conclusion: the predominance of the absence of negative attitudes was highlighted, alongside a limited presence of positive attitudes toward older professionals, underscoring the need for educational strategies that strengthen generational appreciation within nursing education.