Are all nursing homes the same?

guest42010 · Nov 3, 2010

CNAs and CMAs where I work get an extra dollar an hour for attending all inservices, completing any training required, and by not being late or calling in over the course of the pay period. Unfortunately, if you're legitimately sick, you lose that extra dollar for calling in. This seems to motivate people a certain amount to be punctual and dependable, even if it's only an extra $72-80/paycheck that they're getting.

But you still get it if you're lazy or provide poor care.

itsmejuli · Nov 3, 2010

I'm quite satisfied with the LTC I work at. Management appears to know what they're doing with staffing. So to answer your question, they're not all the same.

DizzyLizzyNurse · Nov 4, 2010

Our nursing home gives you so many sick days, and whatever you don't use, you get a paycheck for twice a year!

It has really helped with the call ins!

I think a lot of ppl don't realize how hard it is to be a CNA. They just see the money. So they call off a lot. At least that's what was happening at my place.

rdop5388 · Nov 4, 2010

My nursing home has the same issues with call ins. As a nurse it drives me crazy. It just seems to me that young people just don't have any kind of work ethic. The sad thing is the residents are the ones that suffer. I just don't understand how management lets them keep there jobs. Sad.

hopefulwhoop · Nov 4, 2010

My nursing home has the same issues with call ins. As a nurse it drives me crazy. It just seems to me that young people just don't have any kind of work ethic. The sad thing is the residents are the ones that suffer. I just don't understand how management lets them keep there jobs. Sad.

I don't think the issue is with young people having poor work ethic. There were older people at the nsg home where I used to work who called out on a regular basis.

SirJohnny · Nov 4, 2010

What's really weird ... I thought we were in a major recession ... and yet, I can't even get

agency CNA's to come in when there is a call-off.

I bounce around between 8 or 10 different nursing homes (as an agency RN), and experience

the same difficulty in trying to get anyone (staff or agency) to come in when a CNA call's

off. Meaning, the difficulty of filling CNA positions (when there is a call-off) is not limited

to just one or two facilities.

And yes, being a CNA is physically gruelling. Not sure how those folks with 30 years experience

as a nursing home CNA can keep doing it day in and day out. I know their bodies must be hurting

at the end of the shift.

NamasteNurse, BSN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

Pretty much sums it up. I've been in the workforce a long time and only recently as a nurse. In every area of life you will find people who are there because they love it, because they need a job, because they couldn't think of anything else,. For the most part CNA's are paid well and you don't need much in the way of education. That said, most of my CNA's are hard workers supporting their families in the best way they can. They work doubles, OT and do their best every day.

Then there's the ones who do as little as possible, jump from job to job trying to stay ahead of their reputation, call in at the last minute, and have a bad attitude. Again, just like in every job, there are good and bad workers.

noctanol · Nov 4, 2010

Just wondering if it is the same/common for all nursing homes to have alot of call ins with cna staffing, lack of support from DON, ADON, administator when trying to fill cna staffing needs, hiring alot of Cnas with poor work ethic and/or call in alot, give the impression along as it is a warm body they don't care with the type of care they give...

Not all nursing homes have this issue, its a common one though, i dont think its poor work ethic, do you have prn staff that can come in, have others come in to work overtime etc. i have called in on several occasions due to various reasons, emergencies, baby being sick, exams etc on your question on care, if alot of them have issues providing care, talk to the management and if nothing is done, refer the matter to STATE, you are the pt's advocate and thats why you became a nurse.

mikeicurn, ASN, RN · Nov 4, 2010

The LTC facility I work at is a lot like that. I am running at least one CNA short at least 75% of the time. When they are there it is a battle to get some of them to work, which makes it harder on the good ones. Some nights it seems like all I do is deal with "nurse aid drama" as one of my colleagues calls it. My aids can definitely give me more grief than the residents some nights. I like the idea of the extra dollar per hour if you are attending in-services and not calling in. That sounds like a good solution. I might suggest that we look into something like that.