should I complaint?

Specialties Geriatric

Published

I work in ltc. The unit where I work has 30 residents they all need assistance. My floor is supposed to work 4 CNA's and 1 nurse, but in my weekend on I get only 3 CNA's. Once they left me only with 2 CNA's. I was thinking in calling in today but I am a very responsable person. I already told to the DON was going on but, still the same problem. I am very concern for the safety of the residents. what sould I do?:crying2:

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Specializes in Geriatrics.

I wouldn't complain. The staffing sounds adequate to me. 3 CNA's and a nurse to 30 residents? That is approx. 7 residents to each staff person. That for LTC is really not bad. Anxious to hear other responses you'll get...good luck!

Blessings, Michelle

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Are you supppose to fill the slot of the missing cna in these scenarios? Its enough to pass pills but I just cant see having time to wipe butt and change linens too. The other 2 or 3 would have to suck it up and tag team. Remember, you can help them but they cant help you. If they dont like it let them be the ones to run tell it, maybe then it will get some response. As long as you pick up the slack, management wont bother helping you fix the problem

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Specializes in Management, Emergency, Psych, Med Surg.

I have never worked long term care so I cannot speak with any expertise on the issue. However, I have worked many times with short staffing. You need to think this issue through carefully before you take any action.

There are days that no matter what we do, we will work short. Management cannot always find a person to come in to cover a hole in the schedule or to cover for a call in. But it is important to note if you are working short all the time or just occasionally.

If you find that you are working short only occasionally, then you will have to decide if you can manage that work load. If you are chronically short, then you would want to start by having a talk with your manager about your concerns. If you feel that staffing is so poor that you are placing your license at risk, then you need to get out of there. If you make that move, because staffing is so unsafe, I feel that you have a duty to report these unsafe staffing standards to your state board of health.

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When I had 80 residents, I was lucky to have two CNAs, if I had two CNAs. With 52 residents one time, my lone CNA who showed up for work was a couple of hours late. I do not see what you have to complain about. Short staffing is a fact of life in long term care. If you don't care to deal with it, then do not work in long term care.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.

I agree with above.. 1 nurse, 3 CNAs for 30 residents is pretty typical in LTC. Be very happy for the days you have 4 CNA''s!

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Specializes in Geriatrics, Pain, End of Life Care.

1 nurse and 2 aides is pretty typical for 30 ltc residents...like the poster above me says...be thankful when you have more that 2 aides. the deeper hurt is a cut in the licenses on the floor. where i work, we had been running an rn/lpn mix for most of the year...now we have just one or the other and that is for 65 plus residents in a mixed skilled/alz/respite care facility (thanks tho to having 4 cnas ongoing)

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Calling off does nothing to help the residents.

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I am a CNA and I have to go against everyone else and say that chronic short staffing is BAD. Do not count your blessings that you are short-staffed, because it is NOT a blessing.

30 people with 2 CNAs and 1 nurse is not acceptable to me. Depending on the level of acuity, this means that ADLs are not getting done and that shortcuts are being taken. NOT GOOD. This means that issues that would be preventable with full staff are GOING to happen, such as skin breakdown.

I would raise your concerns with the scheduler and point out any recent upswing in skin problems, teeth problems, etc., and relate it to short-staffing. If that doesn't help, take your concerns up the chain of command. We recently had this problem in our facility and the staff got together, bypassed our management, and reported the issues to our parent corporation. Most of the scheduling problems have stopped and many of the issues arising from them have also stopped.

Also, I wouldn't call off, but you can refuse an unsafe assignment. I have had to personally call CNAs myself to come in because our supervisor didn't want to deal with calling people, so you can try that, too.

Good luck! I hope things get better for you!

ETA: I'm assuming that this is happening on 1st or 2nd shift. On third shift, 30:2:1 isn't that bad, but it could still be better.

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Specializes in Med Surg-Geriatrics.

Lets see @ night I have 35 residents (used to have the whole unit 70 residents,but I was younger and finally said enough or I walk) CNA's have 14 residents @ night and sometimes 18 if someone calls in or if we have to do a 1 on 1, plus the night CNA's @ our place are expected to get several residents up and dressed (always the difficult ones)and additionally get up people that have Dr's appts and we are considered one of the better facillities in our area so I guess 7 residents to one CNA and 30 per nurse in LTC isn't so bad

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I've been the only nurse for 65 residents, with 3 CNAs on nights, so your staffing sounds pretty good to me.

That's just the way LTC is here in the states.

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Specializes in LTC, Hospice, Case Management.
30 people with 2 CNAs and 1 nurse is not acceptable to me.

You need to go back and read the OP! She said she is usually scheduled with 4 CNA's during the week and then only 3 on the weekend (Not 2). I would agree that 2 on days or 3-11 may be pushing it a bit, but 10:1 isn't unusual & shouldn't be that bad.

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