Selecting a nursing home -staffing ratios.MOV

Catherine D'Ambrosio, RN, PhD
http://nursingevolutions.typepad.com/elder-incontinence/

Nursing Care Staffing Ratios: This entry discusses the need to access accurate nursing care staffing ratios. I recommend you obtain the staffing ratios from each facility you consider for placement of your elder.

The most important number is: How many patients are assigned to each nurse? How many patients are assigned to each nursing assistant?

The numbers of patients assigned will vary depending upon the shift and the day of the week. Day shifts typically have higher staffing ratios than evenings -which are higher than nights. Weekend and holiday staffing ratios are generally even lower than weekday staffing ratios.

Inquire about the educational preparation of the nursing staff.
1. How many Master's-prepared nurses are employed or engaged by the facility?
2. How often are Master's-prepared nurses available for consult on patient care issues?
3. How often do Master's-prepared nurses provide seminars and inservices on patient care issues? Such seminar topics might include: *Promoting Continence among elders with cognitive and mobility impairments*, *Providing Prompted Voiding*, *Alternatives to Using Restraints*, and *Preventing Pressure Ulcers*.
4. How often are the facility's nursing assistants required to attend training seminars on basic nursing care issues?

Category:

Education

Tags:

• incontinence
• family caregiving
• family caregiver
• nursing home placement
• Catherine D'Ambrosio RN PhD