Title: Nursing Home Understaffing - Causes, Risks and Consequences
Headings: Nursing Home Understaffing
Nursing Home Understaffing
Nursing Home Understaffing Reasons
Impact of Overtime
Nursing Home Understaffing Consequences
Immobile Patient Consequences
Neglect of Needs
Abuse of Patients
Prevalence of Nursing Home Understaffing
Preventing Nursing Home Understaffing
Handling Understaffing Consequences

Content: In some cases, nursing homes may have difficulty finding or retaining enough properly trained nurses to provide adequate care for all residents. High turnover due to unreasonable demands may further increase understaffing issues. Impact of Overtime
Overtime is very common among nursing home staff, and can contribute to stress levels as staff members work longer hours. Overtime is viewed as a benefit by many nurses and other staff members, as wages will increase for overtime hours. Overtime is also viewed as a way to show loyalty and earn respect from administration, contributing to a dynamic in which staff feels compelled to work an unreasonable number of hours and patient care suffers. Nursing Home Understaffing Consequences
The consequences of nursing home understaffing are numerous, and may vary according to patient needs. Neglect and abuse become more common as the patient to staff ratio increases. The neglect and abuse suffered by patients can cause physical ailments, psychological disorders, and even death. Nursing home understaffing may also contribute to psychological disorders among staff members, as stress escalates. Immobile Patient Consequences
Many patients that are housed in nursing homes have limited mobility, and are dependent on caregivers for movement and physiological needs.