Nursing Homes: 10 Worst States for Nurse Staffing

How many hours a day are home residents under the direct care of a registered nurse?

Posted: December 19, 2008

Yesterday, the federal government rolled out a revamped and simplified approach to its evaluations of nursing homes, in order to make the onerous task of choosing the right one easier for families. Like the system the government uses for rating Medicare health and drug plans, the Nursing Home Compare site
now gives nursing homes from 1 to 5 stars, overall and in each of three areas—performance in the latest three quarterly reports in 10 key quality measures, such as the percentage of residents with urinary tract infections; performance in the latest three annual health inspections; and adequacy of both overall staffing and staffing by registered nurses.

The following 10 states have the highest percentages of nursing homes with the worst rating of 1 star for adequate staffing by registered nurses.

Rank	State	Total, all nursing homes	1 star
1	Louisiana	269	75.1 percent
2	Georgia	342	66.1 percent
3	Arkansas	225	54.7 percent
4	Texas	1,042	47.2 percent
5	Oklahoma	295	46.1 percent
6	Tennessee	293	41.6 percent
7	Missouri	489	41.1 percent
8	Virginia	263	37.6 percent
9	Indiana	482	32.6 percent
10	Alabama	218	31.7 percent

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Workereven of @ Dec 31, 2009 22:02:24 PM

nursing homes

I'm an LPN I am licensed in Florida, and Tennessee, I have been in the healthcare field for 12 years, and can tell you that a number of changes to our nursing home care system need to be made. As for the above comment about if we had 100,000 or more people just like their daughter, we do, most people go into nursing because they want to help people, I do agree that there are those out there that just don't belong, and are there just to earn a paycheck, most of those don't last long because people like me like to run them off. We want people that care to take care of our residence. I will tell you that most people that complain about the care that their loved ones get have not taken a realistic look at things. The state tells the nursing home they are coming, or goes in a particular pattern when they come to inspect each year. The staff all of a sudden has increased in numbers in our nursing home when the state arrives. We typically have one nurse for every 35-40 residence, that means you have about 15 minutes per patient to give them medications,most residents have an avg. of 15 just in the morning which you have to take out of individual packs, and record with initials for each one that they have taken it, and some have to take meds two more times in your shift also, make sure the 2 CNA's you have if your lucky 3 have fed, bathed, and cleaned the room, as well as brushed their teeth etc.,if your resident has a safety devices,which most do, is it working, did the kitchen send the right meal if they have swallowing difficulties,has laundry sent the supplies we need, and don't forget to take care of any wounds they have, and chart all this in 3 places. I haven't even touched on reporting to the on coming staff, or calling the doctors if someone needs an appointment, or is sick. (remember 15 minutes per patient) Wake up you can make the changes, the administration isn't going to hire enough staff if the laws don't make them, because it would take away from their pocket (salary). Americans need to inact a law that governs the number of patients one nurse can take care of, and while we do this, we also need to protect those who work with us, don't kill the cnas they need to be protected with how many residents they can take care of. Help you healthcare workers, they may have to take care of you some day!!!

lisa of TN @ Mar 02, 2009 14:33:20 PM

Virginia Nursing Homes

I have been an advocate for nursing home residents for over nine years and have come to realize that there is no way to fix nursing homes as they currently exist.
Who wants to end her life incontinent because no one would help with her toileting? Who wants to be in pain because of decubitis ulcers (bedsores)? Who wants his dignity eroded as he is paraded naked (except maybe for a thin sheet) down the hall to a shower between rows of people slumped over in wheelchairs? Who wants to be unable to see because her glasses are missing and no one has any idea where they are? Who wants to be in a continuous fog because of a mix-up in medications? No one.
We need to deinstitutionalize the places where our frail elders spend their waning years. The Green House Project is a model that has been replicated in many states already (albeit not VA). This concept features a homelike atmosphere with 8-10 people, private rooms with private bathrooms, open kitchen and dining areas, accessible yards,nutritious and appropriate meals, etc. The best part is that there is plenty of well-trained, caring, competent staff. The cost for all of this is comparable to a nursing home and in many cases it is less. These places cannot be created fast enough.
In the meantime, we need to recognize that Ombudsman programs cannot do the job they are mandated to do because they are tied to politicians who receive mega bucks from the health care industry. To be effectual, they must be stand-alone entities separated from the political arena...and lots of luck on that ever happening.

Janet Clement of VA @ Dec 26, 2008 22:41:27 PM

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