What can we do to improve working conditions in Nursing homes?

banditrn · Dec 29, 2006

Another person seems to have bought the union line...the union won't stop callouts, which, at my facility, is the reason staffing is short. The union can't manufacture CNA's to replace those who have called out. Part of the problem is the aides themselves and their horrible work attitude. The union won't fix that and, in the long run, will most likely make it worse. They promise things they will never be able to deliver.

I agree with you, Capecod - but we need some kind of 'something' to give the nurses a voice. Constantly 'walking' isn't the answer, either.

The Corporate, for profit, nursing home may sound good to the general public, but I've gotten a real nasty taste in my mouth over them - not just at the one I recently left, but at things my son has told me about the one he worked many years for - and left.

The facility I work at now is better, but they've just started accepting skilled residents - and they're taking one's that none of the nurses there have ever had experience with - and they aren't doing any kind of inservices - just kind of putting them in a room and saying 'here they are'.

One of the nurses there told me that at a recent nurses meeting, our new DON stated that her goal was to have 50 residents per nurse - and this will include the skilled residents.

One of the reasons I went to this facility is that the staffing was much better than the last - but I'm NOT doing 50 residents.

A good DON is a must, but if they don't have the backing of administration, there isn't much they can do to prevent some of the horror stories that are to come.

withasmilelpn · Dec 29, 2006

One of the nurses there told me that at a recent nurses meeting, our new DON stated that her goal was to have 50 residents per nurse - and this will include the skilled residents.

I'll do it! But first I have some stipulations that facility will have to meet. The family members of the residents first have to agree to sign a waiver that their loved one will in no circumstances ever ring a call bell (for it will not be answered), they must sign a DNR, DNH (for we will be unlikely to get to them in time to do any good) and they waive any liability to the nursing staff should actual harm occur (because it will.) Also I would expect to be paid enough to forget I have a conscience... Never mind, they couldn't do that anyway! Guess I'm not working there!

banditrn · Dec 30, 2006

I'll do it! But first I have some stipulations that facility will have to meet. The family members of the residents first have to agree to sign a waiver that their loved one will in no circumstances ever ring a call bell (for it will not be answered), they must sign a DNR, DNH (for we will be unlikely to get to them in time to do any good) and they waive any liability to the nursing staff should actual harm occur (because it will.) Also I would expect to be paid enough to forget I have a conscience... Never mind, they couldn't do that anyway! Guess I'm not working there!

Do you wonder what the Long Term Care situation is going to look like in 5 or 10 years?

Simplepleasures · Dec 30, 2006

Do you wonder what the Long Term Care situation is going to look like in 5 or 10 years?

Yes I see it now, we are all in a world of hurt if this despicable trend is allowed to perpetuate. :uhoh3:

Boston64 · Jan 14, 2007

NOTHIING......until the exact ratio of CNA's and licensed nurses to residents are mandated in the State and Federal Regulations.

Hi! This was the first question I saw and I felt furious and sad because I am a seasoned RN and I want to teach CNA's, but because I do not have a BSN, I have found it a fruitless search.

With the high rate of baby boomer's reaching the age where they will need care, the demand for well trained CNA's as well as RN's is going to reach a crisis!

I have decided, at the ripe old age of 64 to enrole in a BSN program so that I can pass on the gift of an excellent training that I was given 42 years ago. I may be too old to work at the bedside, but I still have a lot to [/url] offer.

There are so many of us well trained nurses out there who could be of use for teaching purposes, if the requirements for teaching were not so great.

Anybody else out there who thinks and feels the same way?

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babedalton · Jan 14, 2007

Dont give up ! The squeaky wheel gets the grease ! The Public needs to get behind you, rally the families, residents etc; Get Legal help from College of Nurses on plan of action to achieve this.

shoreh2000 · Jan 14, 2007

hello guys

i am an ex-surveyor (la county) and don. there is help for all of us.

1. staff need to be more proactive and be more informed regarding the regulation so they can make better decisions.

2. prioritize your work.

3. talk to your colleagues. communication is the basic component to good care.

4. ask questions. and, hold your don/administrators liable for making any bad decisions!

good luck

Simplepleasures · Jan 14, 2007

hello guys
i am an ex-surveyor (la county) and don. there is help for all of us.
1. staff need to be more proactive and be more informed regarding the regulation so they can make better decisions.
2. prioritize your work.
3. talk to your colleagues. communication is the basic component to good care.
4. ask questions. and, hold your don/administrators liable for making any bad decisions!
good luck

excellent advice, i am doing just that, holding the don/administrator/ ltc facility liable for firing me after i reported an illegal/unethical practice to the state ,after first complaining about this in house.luckily my state has a whistleblower retaliation protection law for healthcare workers, i am in the middle of a lawsuit against the facility.hopefully the state will step up to the plate also and start enforcing some of those excellent laws.have you read "patients pain and politics", written by mary richards rollins rn bsn, about the wi state surveyors and what they had to go up against in their own department as far as adequatly investigating and then enforcing?it was an eye opener.very sad.

CapeCodMermaid, RN · Jan 14, 2007

Hi! This was the first question I saw and I felt furious and sad because I am a seasoned RN and I want to teach CNA's, but because I do not have a BSN, I have found it a fruitless search.
With the high rate of baby boomer's reaching the age where they will need care, the demand for well trained CNA's as well as RN's is going to reach a crisis!
I have decided, at the ripe old age of 64 to enrole in a BSN program so that I can pass on the gift of an excellent training that I was given 42 years ago. I may be too old to work at the bedside, but I still have a lot to offer.
There are so many of us well trained nurses out there who could be of use for teaching purposes, if the requirements for teaching were not so great.
Anybody else out there who thinks and feels the same way?
Boston64-
I live in Massachusetts and there is NO regulation I know of which makes it mandatory for a CNA instructor to have a BSN. My SDC is in the middle of a CNA class and she does not have a BSN. Where I live, there are so few nurses with Masters Degrees to teach at the local community college, the BON has decided to allow BSN nurses teach nursing students if there is an MSN person willing to 'supervise' them.