Did you hear this article on 94.9? What do you think?
s suffer from staffing shortages, but the jobs are hard to fill (National Public Radio) Nationwide, nursing homes are down more than 240,000 employees since the start of the pandemic, according to the Labor Department. Facilities across the country are grappling with numerous unfilled positions as a result of staff departures during the pandemic….
Overwhelmed nursing assistants say understaffing leads to an assembly line approach to care
In Baltimore, Holly Ward is a geriatric nursing assistant at a nursing home that has earned an “above average” rating for staffing from CMS. Still, on some shifts, she has as many as 13 residents to dress, feed, clean, change, move. One after another.
“So it becomes like an assembly line,” Ward says.
And not one that runs smoothly. Ward will find that while she’s attending to one resident, another is incontinent. That resident may end up waiting in soiled bedclothes for a while.
“To care for them, you have to give them dignity. That is the main factor they stress at the job, yet you don’t give us the staff to provide that,” Ward says.
Often, to meet the basic needs of every resident, Ward says she ends up skipping other important components of their care, such as talking with them and providing emotional support.
“They look to you for comfort, but then when you don’t have time to adequately give them the comfort they deserve, it’s not fair,” says Ward. “And then it’s on your conscience.”
6 Responses
That’s because they pay so little for a job that deserves a decent wage! Understaffed so overworked and in many cases very poorly managed. I’ve been a CNA for 15 years and won’t work in a facility for just these reasons….private in-home care is the only way to provide good care and make a decent living, but unfortunately many cannot afford in-home care. I had experience with numerous facilities and hospitals while taking care of my own mother for 5 years. It was eye-opening and very sad. Many facilities have been bought up (or were already owned) by large corporations that often had absolutely NOTHING to do with healthcare. The greed factor was plainly evident. Unfortunately this has happened with many or most hospice companies as well so now that sector of care has been negatively impacted.
You’re very correct
Yup! Understaffed, overworked, and low wages…smh
Forgot to mention that due to all the factors listed above, the caregiver turnover in facilities is very high…so retaining good caregivers is unusual. Many work in a particular facility only long enough to have the necessary experience to move to a hospital position or other better paying (and managed) position.
Its hard and very challenging
Especially knowing the delecaticy of the persons and what it can cost you as the individual . The stress level is unbearable for most part depending on the moods of the clients
And how severe there conditions are
Guess persons just need to feel appropriated
Not overwhelming by the.job. because it can be
I agree! It’s why the burnout rate is so high!