Would more RNs in Nursing Home Correct Problems of Neglect?

Ruthiegal · Apr 17, 2008

Today in my Psych class we discussed the condition of nursing homes. Many people commented on problems of neglect in the nursing homes. Do you think having more RNs in the nursing home would correct problems of neglect?

It isn't a matter of having just more RN's. It is actually more a problem of not having enough staff including RN, LPN and CNA's on the units to handle all of the residents needs. If there isn't enough staff all around what would more RN's be able to do, one person is still one person, and you can physically only do so much. For the owners of the nursing home it's a bottom line issue, and I believe most have never even given a lot of consideration to the amount of work it takes. I worked one 32 bed skilled unit with one aide and myself on midnights. It took real team work for us to get through the night.

I've worked LTC many years of my career and lack of staffing has always been an issue everywhere I've worked. That includes Nurses and CNA. So no I don't think more RN's is the total answer, I think more staffing in general is the way it needs to be addressed.

Just my :twocents: worth!

Mydnightnurse

Baloney Amputation, BSN, LPN, RN · Apr 17, 2008

Institute mandatory staffing ratios that result in good patient care, because we aren't even close currently. It's atrocious.

The best I've had was working in another state than where I live now where I had about 30 residents for myself with a med aide and 3 CNAs on evening shift. That was some smooth sailing from what I was used to.

The worst nursing home I've vicariously experienced was where my husband used to work where he was the only nurse (no CMA) for 70+ residents, many of them psych patients (i.e., some of them had no business being in there for safety purposes of the residents and staff), with 3 aides. He burnt out damned quickly under those conditions on evening shift. :down:

More direct-care staff period is best. We sure as hell need no more management who are content to leave an evening shift sorely understaffed when it is 5 p.m. I vote for more CNAs first, then more nurses (or at least a med aide with a nurse). In some facilities, it is impossible to have residents go to the bathroom more than once a shift (if that). I pee more than once in a shift--residents ought to have that same "luxury."

RN1989 · Apr 17, 2008

Increased RN staffing in ANY type of facility that cares for pts (acute, LTC, clinic, etc.) will improve care & reduce or eliminate the numerous problems caused by lack of staff. It also improves the bottome line because the facility will not be paying for the care of pt's with infections, clots, decubs, etc. because the staff will have time to do their job. Of course getting admin to see it is another story. All I can say to them is DUH, this is your fault for understaffing and making nurses leave nursing.