Published
Actually, I was happy they ran the story. It is no secret that nursing homes are notoriously short staffed. It is quite obvious that short staffing results in poor care. I hope that LTCs do get more exposure because only then will facility try to make some improvements. If everyone thinks nursing homes are a great place there will never be a need for change!
Actually, I was happy they ran the story. It is no secret that nursing homes are notoriously short staffed. It is quite obvious that short staffing results in poor care. I hope that LTCs do get more exposure because only then will facility try to make some improvements. If everyone thinks nursing homes are a great place there will never be a need for change!
The way to do that is to advocate for the nursing staff, not scare the hell out of the general pulic. Sorry, but that was a scare tatctic. The media is sure famous for that.
While your right that short staffing does result in sub par care, that dosen't excuse the media scaring the general public.
I think the only state who has a strong nurses association is Califronia. The CNA got staffing ratios implemented. I wish more states would do that. Many states have withdrawan from the ANA because they felt they do nothing for the bedside nurses. Michigan is one of them.
The things most of these homes get cited for isn't something major usually. They are usually petty dumb things. The woman who was bruised was probably on blood thinners. They were investigated and found not to have done anything wrong. Perhaps she was newly admitted after falling outside the facility and the bruises haden't gone yet. Who knows, but the story went on to assume that the nursing home had abused her which was found not to be the case.
Sorry but I can't get behind the scare tatics that the media uses.
There are good nursing homes out there and there are plenty of horrible ones. Don'nt know what the ratios are. I do believe that the majority are understaffed. The only way change will come is if the general public is made aware. I don'nt believe that the news agency should attempt to create bias against all nursing homes. I have seen many horrible things in hospitals where I have worked.
If you want insight into the staffing at a nursing home:
I (was lucky) : 1 LPN to 38 patients, doing ALL meds, treatments, etc
Oh with three CNAs on day or evening
two CNA's on nights
on-call RN (who never answered the phone, haha)
That averages out to me having 12 1/2 minutes per patient on shift so you figure most of them have at least two med passes and double checking meds and don't forget charting!
My friend:
1 LPN: 55 patients
with four CNAs
I think she had a RN supervisor, but the LPN did all the meds, treatments.
That's about 8 3/4 minutes for her per patient
Honestly, how can a nursing home be a good place?
Nurses do the best they can to take good care of patients there. But even if the patients physical needs are met, the psychosocial are definitely neglected.
Their families never visit, they seem forgotten, you try as a nurse to interact as much as possible, but really you're just trying to make sure to get all the pills thrown down their throat, do the insanity of paperwork, do their dressing changes and help the CNA's.
I would rather end my life jumping on a cliff than have to spend years of lonely misery in a nursing home. And I know I'm not the only one who feels that way.
I made a point to tell the entire BSN class that I was in about the ratio. Not one of them had a clue. They started clinical with their one patient and couldn't fathom the idea of having that many patients.
I hope that we can unite together and force some changes, or we're all going to very lonely sitting in our wheel chairs in SNF hallways....
I think the only state who has a strong nurses association is Califronia. The CNA got staffing ratios implemented. I wish more states would do that. Many states have withdrawan from the ANA because they felt they do nothing for the bedside nurses. Michigan is one of them.
I know California was able to pass staffing ratio laws but I thought it was only acute care--med surg, ICU, etc. Did they pass laws on ratios for nursing homes?
CapeCodMermaid, RN
6,092 Posts
ABC World News Tonight had a piece tonight about the deplorable conditions in America's nursing homes. They started off by saying that 90% of nursing homes received citations in their last survey. Yah...they neglected to say that the scope and severity of them determines if it is a patient care issue. They showed a woman who was covered with bruises. The DPH investigated and found the facility faultless. But the article implied that we are all evil people who torment and abuse old people.
Of course I wrote to ABC news on their web site. Unfortunately, one is limited to 500 words and you guys know by now that I tend to go on.
If you get a chance to watch the piece please do and then write your own reply to ABC. I invited them to come to my facility ...of course they won't. Showing a beautiful well run nursing facility is not part of their agenda.