Nurses, CNAs, and other staff do not quit or leave because of, “bad residents.” More often than not, these valuable staff leave because of bad leadership. It is not a staffing problem; it is a leadership problem. These big for - profit corporations take over all the facilities in the area. Instead of changing leadership, they stay on. Nothing actually really changes.

I have seen where CNAs and nurses have privately purchased their own supplies (wipes and gloves,’especially) because the facility - provided equipment is sub par or the facility is too cheap to get what is needed to provide the best care. I have seen good staff get burned out and worn down because leadership is so detached from the every day struggle of their floor staff. And because of these things, resident care suffers. 

A typical nurse in a long term care facility has a patient load of about 20 -30. In a typical shift, they are expected to pass medications (sometimes more than once) do treatments like wound care, monitor blood sugars, and then are expected to complete necessary assessments. And imagine being a CNA and having a patient load of 25, each resident with their own needs,’preferences and the like and having to look after all of them. 

Give us good leaders.