Why Do Nursing Homes Have Such High Turnover Staffing Rates?

The quality of care in a nursing home is matched by the experience of the staff. Unfortunately, these facilities have been dealing with their skilled workers not sticking around. According to information collected by Health Affairs, the mean and median turnover rates for the total nursing staff were approximately 128% and 94%, respectively. All of those changes can directly impact a resident’s care.

Given those facts, you would be right to be concerned about nursing home neglect. The following post explains why this turnover might happen and how it affects the residents and the remaining staff.

Why Turnover Occurs

There are many reasons why the turnover numbers are so high. Consider the following:

Nature of the Job

If you spent any time caring for your loved one before they moved to the nursing home, then you know how demanding the work can be. The nursing home staff undergo physically and emotionally draining responsibilities every shift. They have to provide the same level of support for every resident, and they all have different needs. This type of workload triggers burnout, provoking the caregivers to consider a different job.

Low Wages

While the nursing home industry offers many employment opportunities, those facilities are typically on the lower pay scale. Even though the staff plays a vital role in providing care, they often feel as though they aren’t adequately compensated for the type of duties they perform. If a staff member finds a job that utilizes the same skills at a higher wage, it is only natural that they would consider moving on.

Insufficient Staffing Levels

A staffing shortage creates a ripple effect of problems at a nursing facility. Even when one caregiver is out sick or has left the job, the work burden for the remaining staff doubles. That leads to fatigue and the risk to the quality of care for the residents. It can also speed up those burnout issues.

The Negative Impact

The high staff turnover can directly impact the type of support your loved one receives at the facility. Here are some of the adverse effects:

Continuity of Care Disruption

A nursing home resident interacts with several staff members throughout the day. However, those are often the same caregivers for each shift. That means the residents get used to those staff members. In turn, the employees know the personality and needs of each of their assigned residents.

When a caregiver leaves, their replacement has to start over with the list of responsibilities for each resident. That leads to a disruption in care that could manifest in more severe problems. It comes down to a lack of familiarity with the residents. Also, there could be missteps with medication distribution and various physical therapy treatments.

Low Morale

High turnover rates impact the residents directly. It can also affect the morale of the remaining staff members. Caregivers will have to train the new hires, which takes them away from their own responsibilities.

When deciding on a nursing home, asking about staff turnover rates is essential. There will always be workers who want to retire or move on. However, the care of your loved one should be a priority. If you suspect there might be neglect issues, you should alert the staff supervisors. In the worst-case scenario, you may need to contact legal counsel to discuss the situation.