Another Misleading Story

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

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.

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Specializes in LTC, Med-SURG,STICU.

That is so sad. Why is it that people want to paint the picture of the evil nursing home nurse? I do not abuse my residents nor does any of the staff at my facility. I am so sick of this kind of stuff. Sorry, I can not watch that kind of stuff without my BP going through the roof.

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Specializes in LTC , SDC and MDS certified (3.0).

The web site wouldn't show the story only a short synopsis.

I agree, they can come where I work anytime. In fact state left today and said we are doing good work here!!!!!

How often do they say that??

The lady with the bruses probably is on coumadin...:banghead:

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I hate the "news" shows that don't tell the whole story. Very few of our tags on our last survey have anything to do with the care that our residents receive...it is things like having the French dressing labeled as ranch or having Myrtle's RAP summary in the wrong place.

:(

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Specializes in ICU/Critical Care.

Oh goodie, another biased story about nurses.

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

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!

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.
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.

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Specializes in ED, ICU, PSYCH, PP, CEN.

I can't believe I just read a couple of nurses defending their nursing homes and saying they do a good job. Thank God. I thought they were all awful.

All the ones I have seen were pretty bad.

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Specializes in medicine and psychiatry.

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.

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Specializes in Emergency, Trauma, Critical Care.

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....

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Specializes in Day Surgery, Agency, Cath Lab, LTC/Psych.

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?

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Specializes in Neuro ICU and Med Surg.

I am not sure now. I thought nursing homes were included. Any Cali nurses to correct me if I am wrong?

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