Staff Ratios at Nursing Homes

Specialties Geriatric

Published

Do you think the staff (including cna's) to resident ratio at your LTC facility

is FAIR?

Why

or

Why Not?

It sure does I don't think I could do it without the staffing I have.

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Specializes in Hospice, Oncology.

Vsink - Amen, to what you posted. I am horrified at the "lack of care," at the long-term "care" facilities. I am a charge RN and Supervisor at times, when I am the only RN in the building.

You are totally correct in what you said...we all should band together! I cannot participate in neglectful care...and that is exactly what it is! They should be called "lack-of-care facilities." I plan to resign just as soon as I can. I have spoken up over and over again, and all I get is "you'll get used to it!" Get used to what? Not to mention, I DON'T EVER want to get used to not caring...not why I became a nurse in the first place.

It is all about money! It's always, "well according to the state." Who is "the state?" Who oversees the state? Where are their rules and regulations governing the care of human beings written? I should be able to read them for myself, since my care (or lack thereof) is being dictated by "them." Any ideas there?

Sorry to vent, but appreciate the opportunity to get the frustration off my chest. I keep praying that God will SLAM the doors of the places that participate in this type of behaviors towards others. It even states in the Bible...love one another, or whatever you do to the least of these, etc. What a mess that desperately needs to be addressed.

Thanks again, and best of luck in all your endeavors!:nurse:

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

My unit has the best staffing of all the units on days. We have 1 nurse to 32 residents, and 4 CNA's. The reason we get that many aides is because it's a locked down behavioral unit. Otherwise, we'd get 3, like the other units. There are many times when it's not enough even then.

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Specializes in LTC, MDS Cordnator, Mental Health.

My Facility has 68 Residents, 4 wings of 17 residents, 4 LPN's, 8 NAR's it is 8.5 resident Per NAR, and 17 Residents per LPN, most days it is 2 RN Charge nurses and 2 MDS Coordinators,

On NOC shift we have 2 LPN'S and 3 NAR'S

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I am a new RN (working my first job out of school) at a nursing home. I work the midnight shift, and many times have 60+ residents with four aides. I am ENTIRELY fearful of losing my license working at this place. Is it bad for me, bad for the residents, and I'm thinking quitting with little experience would be better than losing my license! What do you all think!?!?!

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Wow. The last nursing home I worked at it was about 30-35 for each nurse plus 4 aides. You passed your own meds during the day........i counted one day.......287 medications and that dosen't include the Miralax, inhalers, nebs, etc. This was what had to be passed from 6-8 a.m. Oh, and hopefully you didn't need to call the Dr. for anything or have anything happen before the "nursing coordinator" came in at 9. Oops forgot about the 8 blood sugars and insulins that I needed to give......hmmm...stuck it out for 3 months and decided it wasnt worth my license anymore. The previous NH I worked at on night shift I was THE only nurse on overnights with approx 110-120 residents and 4 aides and one med aide (for the other side.) Again.....left for what I thought was a better situation. Now I work in Home Health and while some days are frustrating, at least I don't fear for my license!

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since last post I have moved to an assisted living facility and LOVE it!:redpinkhe

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"There are better laws for animal shelters than for all the sub- standard elderly hidaways other wise known as LTC! I want nurses to stand up and demand better treatment for these people and for us nurses as well, this has got to change. I wish I had answers to this craziness, we nurses are going to have to band together and change this, nobody is going to do it for us"

Couldn't have said it better than this. Very true. Why doesn't BQA (in every state) mandate reasonable ratios in LTC??? In WIS our law states that the facility must provide "adequate" staffing. What exactly is adequate??

Wouldn't that vary from person to person?? The residents that are served in LTC, their families, and the staff providing cares deserve so much better than this.

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I agree with mandatory staffing ratios, but that still does not address the call-ins. Reluctance to fire frequent callers reduces morale. It may not be right, and it may not be fair, but it's just the way it is.

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Reading these replies makes me even more thankful for my place of employment. We have a max census of 30 residents (we're usually at 29-30) and day shift usually runs with total staff of 8 including 1-2 RN, 1-2LPN, rest CNAs. Eve shift runs with 7: 1 RN + 1-2 LPNs + CNAs, and nights is 6: 1 RN, 1-2LPNs + CNAs.

There are ALWAYS 2 licensed staff to pass meds, every shift. Our staffing is definitely adequate, and most of our staff members do a decent job of keeping busy...most of the time.

Honestly, it breaks my heart that there are so many LTC facilities with such terrible staffing ratios. Good luck to all who are trying to make a difference.

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