People working at nursing homes have a direct impact on the safety and quality of life of the residents living there. In addition to licensed nurses, there are many other support professionals on hand to assist with daily living needs, ranging from personal hygiene and facility maintenance to the preparation of nutritious meals.
The people working at a nursing home are often very diligent about ensuring that they prioritize the safety of residents. However, some professionals may experience burnout, which can impact the standard of care that they provide.
Why is nursing home worker burn out so common?
Nursing homes often schedule professionals for long shifts of between eight and 12 hours. Their wages may not be particularly competitive, and there are staffing needs 365 days a year, regardless of holiday celebrations.
Professionals at nursing homes face constant demands from their employers and the residents in their care, as well as the risk of violence from people experiencing dementia. All of that can combine to trigger professional burnout.
Professional burnout can manifest as workers cutting corners when cleaning or providing patient care. This can lead to the spread of infection or residents not getting the support they need. It can also result in nursing home workers failing to identify and promptly treat conditions that could worsen with time, including bedsores, sepsis and the early warning signs of dementia. When exhausted, burned-out professionals let their personal struggles affect the standard of care at a nursing home facility, the vulnerable residents in their care pay the price.
Families may have grounds for a nursing home negligence or abuse lawsuit when caregivers actively mistreat residents or fail to meet their needs. Keeping records of how workers behave and the standard of care at a facility can help concerned family members be effective advocates for their vulnerable loved ones.
