Nursing Home Stress: Nurses and Nurse Assistants (CNA’s)

[Frances Shani Parker]

Nurses and nurse assistants (CNA’s) know a lot about stress in nursing homes. They reported their concerns in research done at twenty-five nursing homes in North Carolina. This is what they had to say: Nurses: The situations most stressful for nurses were not having enough staff, having too much work to do, interruptions, having non-health professionals determine how they do their jobs, poor pay, and being responsible for patients' outcomes. Nurses were more likely than nurse assistants to report stress because non-health professionals (e.g. surveyors) determine how they must perform their services. Nurse Assistants (CNA’s): The most stressful situations for nurse assistants included poor pay, not enough staff, and too much work to do. Nurse assistants were more likely than nurses to report stress caused by not having adequate information regarding patients' conditions. Conclusions: The findings of this study support the need to increase recognition for nursing, improve staffing, and provide competitive compensation in nursing homes. Were you surprised by these results? I wasn’t either. But they are more validation of staff stress problems that nurses and nurse assistants experience. They emphasize the need for positive changes through nursing home reform. What stresses you most on your job as a healthcare worker? You can read more about this research in the "Journal of the American Medical Directors Association.” Frances Shani Parker, Author "Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes” "Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog"

[brittany bennett]

Those na have lots of stress from the patient ,to nursing staff also from patient families. The salaries are another problem. There is another problem very litle respect from societ that could cause some of it.

[Frances Shani Parker]

Jeanne, is this an open question to everyone or to me? I never received your email to my address located at my website at www.francesshaniparker.com. under "Author's Bio-Contact-Interview." A lot of your questions can be answered there, and you can email me with any other questions. There are two podcast interviews with me at the website. Your project sounds rather broad to actually complete in this forum post on nursing home stress research, although this may be one good place to ask people to participate.

Frances Shani Parker

[jeanne villare]

Hello,
I need to interview volunteers and staff members on their feelings about end of life care
What are your thoughts on issues about pain control and symptom management?
What do you feel should be included in a plan of care for the dying?
Are you a nurse?
Do you work with the elderly in a nursing home setting or do you care for people at home?
Thank you for your time,
Jeanne

[jeanne villare]

Hello Shani, I am a MSN student with the University of Phoenix. I am developing an educational package to educate staff on providing quality end of life care for older adults in the nursing home setting. I need to interview volunteers and staff members on feelings about end of life care including issues about pain control, symptom management, etc. and what they feel should be included in plan.

[Frances Shani Parker]

Jeanne, you can contact me privately with more information about your project by sending me your e-mail address. Just click the envelope in the top left part of this page to send a private message. Or you can contact me via my website at www.francesshaniparker.com.