CNA Staffing Levels

[lorelei1973]

I read so many posts by frustrated, overworked, underpaid burnt out CNA's whose chief complaint is that they just have too many patients/residents to provide good quality care, you know, the care we were trained to provide and take all those tests for. It's so appalling to think that a CNA would give all he or she has, just to leave at the end of their shift in physical and emotional pain knowing they couldn't do what they needed to do to keep their patients/residents safe and comfortable.

To add insult to injury, the average pay for a CNA is around $10/hr with only a lucky few receiving any meaningful benefits. This is a deplorable situation, and what does it say about our society that we value so little the people who are supposed to be giving our most vulnerable citizens what they, at a minimum, deserve? It speaks volumes, but it doesn't have to be this way. I've told my aging mother I will never allow her to go into a nursing home, even a "good" one, after what I experienced during the clinical part of my training.

So what can CNA's do to change their situation, beginning with staffing ratios? I suggest every CNA who feels like they could do what they were hired to do, if only there were more of them to help, write to your state legislators, your federal legislators, and your state nurse regulating agency. Get petitions going! Staffing ratios are determined by STATE law, so the more information you can give to your state government -- beginning at the grass roots level -- the better the chance that ratios in your state will improve. If you have stories to tell that might turn their stomachs, or make them wonder what would happen should they or their family members have to rely on a long time care facility (nursing home) some day, they need to hear from you. Trust me, they will listen.

It's the GOOD CNA's who are driven away from this job, not the mediocre or lousy ones who enable the situation to remain this way. For as little as the average CNA earns, and for as much as is expected of them, they (we) need to make sure those who make the rules hear what our reality is. Maybe some of you are even willing to testify before your state legislature. I believe strongly that we all have a right to be heard, and we will be heard if enough of us are willing to speak out loudly. Don't assume nothing will ever change. That is only the case when people become complacent and just accept what clearly are unacceptable circumstances for many CNA's.

stepping down from my soapbox. Thanks for listening.

[chickapea]

I totally agree with you!! I think if all families demanded better staffing ratios for places that care for their loved ones things would be different. If a LTC had staffing ratios of 1:6 and another 1:12, who would you go with? Would you want to be cared for by someone who has a dozen other dependant patients?? LTC should be regulated like day care centers for children where it's illegal to have too high of a ratio because you know the care would not be good. Also, the more dependant someone is counts for 2 people. I think we as a society would see a radical difference in standards of care and how people feel about LTC.

[tokidoki7, ASN, RN]

Not just LTC, but hospitals as well. The nurses on my unit make a big fuss over how many patients they receive. However, no one cares about the CNA-to-patient ratio. There have been many times when 1 nursing assistant had the entire unit- 35 patients. One nursing assistant threatened to walk out and magically the charge nurse was able to find another nursing assistant to help work the floor. Too bad that'll be coming out of the precious unit budget (sarcasm). The CNAs who are being hired now are only replacing the one's who've left and the unit will still be understaffed. I'm convinced the establishment wants to wear out the CNA's who are already working and, when they quit, just replace them. There'll never be a sufficient number of nursing assistants on my unit or anywhere else.

[azcna]

I like your passion, but I see two problems with your plan.

1: Staffing levels ARE determined by the state, but most nursing homes get around that. The cna ratio requirement for my state is 10/1. But many homes around here still only provide 12/1 - 16/1. Requiring more staff by law wont change anything, people get around things that they dont want to abide by.

2: Legislators make a lot of money, and they get wonderful benefits for the rest of their lives just for working for the government one term. They have enough money that they wont ever have to put their loved ones in nursing homes.

[misspink789]

well i rather work in a hospital, the ratio is much lower. i worked at a ltc facility the other night, i have worked there several times and it is the ONLY place that leaves me completely exhausted!! i ache from head to toe when i go home from there! i cant imagine working there full time, i would go crazy!! i beleive i had about 10 q2's and 3 other assists. several on low beds (my back!!!) and a couple combatives and about 4 that i needed help with because they are sooo heavy!! i like the patients and the people i work with, but i could never work there long term, it's just waaay too heavy! it's no wonder that they cant keep a full timer, and they call agency!