What is considered a normal Patient:CNA Ratio? I work 24 patients:myself

That is not realistic. While I do not like most nursing homes we have to use our heads better than that. How bout ppl that put their family in nursing home make a weekly family schdl and that way some1 is always visiting. The staff sees this and takes better care of the pt, which is their job to do but they don't.

As long as Nursing Homes are understaffed,no matter how many visits a family makes it won't help.Would you in your old age want to live in a tiny room ,in a tiny bed with a total stranger as a roommate? Would you want to be told when to bath,wake and go to bed? You are no longer living,You are simply existing and hoping to die.We must look at it threw their eyes.It is very lonely.If you are sane when you move in,it won't take long before you go insane.Often retreating into yourself.Think about it.With a bad economy and getting worse.Familys will have no choice,they must live together and take care of each other.

Maybe we need to start reporting these understaffing to our congressman and the local news.

Go For it!!! I support it!

Hey Everyone! Recently here in Ohio, thanks to our governor, our STNA ratio to patient has changed from 1to 15 to an unlimited number per staff. I am a restorative assistant, so I am not on the floor that often, but my friends who work the floor are now being overworked. I help them everyday to get their patients up, toilet them, and even give showers. I am angry also, because the patients do not get the proper care they deserve when staffing is not up to par...and NO, administrative personnel do not care about the patients, all they care about is money, and how much they can save down grading staff...I pray that things will change and get better for those of you who are being overworked...sometimes unionizing helps. We have a union and when contract time comes we are going to try to enact a patient\staff ratio within our contract. Be blessed everyone, and I pray things will get better for all of you!

Greedy corporations drive this understaffing and it will continue to get worse.What will happen when our government shuts down social security( it pays for most nursing home residents) and the elderly have no money to pay for NH's? Will they be thrown out into the streets to die?

Just visited a facility that was 24:1 for nurses and cna's were about 12:1
There is no way that the nurse or CNA can give quality care with that kind of ratio.

On top of that...I watched those call bells ringing and ringing and when I asked...was told "oh the CNA will get to them as soon as they can".

The nurses and cna's are all rotated to work in the dining area serving the residents each meal too. So somehow your supposed to be giving treatments, assisting w/ care and working as waitress and busboys too?

That's one of the best LTC's in the area too. I was told it's 'typical'.

I'm not doing it. I'll go work in a clinic or dr's office and make a lot less money but won't worry everytime I walk in the door that I'm not able to give the care these patients deserve because of the understaffing.

I wish the administrators and "paper pushers" had to spend a week there. Let them have to wait 15 min to be helped to the restroom. Let them eat cold meals because the CNA's are understaffed and they aren't available to assist. Let them be told...we'll get that dirty adult brief changed AFTER breakfast. Or showered 3 days a week IF they are lucky.

UNACCEPTABLE.

Time for all of us to inform familys and the media how bad our elderly are being cared for.In corporate owned places we sign a contract with a keep our secrets to yourself clause.This is a big money maker operation and the elderly are the victims.

janp in Greensburg, Pennsylvania said: This is my first time on this site and I am amazed at all that has been said here. I have been an aide for a little better than 10 years and have worked in a lot of nursing homes and I have never had these high ratios you are all talking about. 8-10 for daylight, 12-15 for evening and of course the whole hall for 1 or 2 aides and never have any night shifts been responsible for getting up more than a few residents. There are state laws against that, at least in Pennsylvania. If your nursing home isn't following the law then report it to the state. Yes, we are overworked and under paid but you do have the option to change careers or do something about it other than complain. It does take a special person to do this job and none of you seem qualified with all the complaining going on. These people are helpless so stop complaining and get out there and help them. You might be tired but how would you like to be dying and have you as your aide.[/QUYou are very right, it does take a special person to do this work. It isn't fair to these poor residents to have a stressed out cna taking care of them, but cnas can only do so much. When you have breakfast being served at 7:30 and 8 or 9 full cares to get up and your shift starts at 6am, that is about 10 minutes per person. You cant properly care for someone in 10 min! Suggesting that we can change careers is a nice suggestion, but that won't fix anything. These poor residents will just get a new cna to come in and rush them around. The state I live in has no ratio law and it is sad to see someone who has raised a family, worked hard, babysit grandbabies and paid taxes their whole lives to end up in a nursing home being treated like part of an assembly line. The cnas and residents are the ones who suffer the most.

I dont even think it should be a resident to aide ratio...staffing should be based on the minutes each resident needs. Some need 10 and some need 45 minutes. Then the state comes through the facilites and makes judgement on every little thing a cna misses. Im quite sure it wasn't cnas who voted to care for 10 full cares with 2 meals in 8 hrs. Someday maybe the state surveyers will get to live in a nursing home :)

I am a nurse in a skilled (supposedly Unskilled unit) evenings...1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. 1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. State giving medications out 7pm (have tried different routines and come up all meds starting at this time). Have 6 pts that cannot sit up in w/c at diningroom table and cannot feef themselves. (Remember now....1 nurse and 1 CNA). We are expected to serve all dinner...make sure all are fed, cleaned from dinner, atleast 9 showered before bed, more than that briefs changed from what ever surprise we find there. Put to bed, now all of this is being done by 1 Aide and the nurse is scrambling to pass out medications that are ordered, deal with issues from patients that can voice them pertaining to their care, tv molume, changing tv stations, ETC, you name it they ask for. Then there is the families that come in for visits breathing down your neck wanting to know why there is only 1 nurse and 1 aide, where is Dads' teeth, comb, tv remote, ETC fantasticle demands that some are humanly impossible to obtain. Moms' galsses aren't where she said they are suppose to be, the list is too long to mention including Moms unmentionables. With all this is going on....Unit Charge nurse has left and expects the nurse to finish the 12 noon new admission that came in...Admission?
Who is it and where are they? what room number? Where did they come from? What is their Diagnosis? Where and what is/are their Medication orders and for that matter where are their medication?: they have been here since 12 noon and nothing has been done for them??????? Screwit it you say??? You have to finish the admission! ??????? It hasn't been started yet....no assessment...no body audit...was that skin tear there when they were brought in???? The money this company makes off these pts. is outrageous! I'm talking >$5000.00 a month! First shift...god forbid they are short one aide or nurse! Third shift has more staff that 2nd! Somebody! What do I do?

This is becoming very normal.In some states the nurse is no longer needed to work the med cart.The cna does that to.The government who pays for most nursing home care,does not care.The elderly and the poor are just a liablity and add to the national debt.The familys don't care,because they don't have time to care for their elders.The corporations that buy nursing homes and ast living are making millions at the cost of human care and dignity.Year by year the food and staff are getting smaller.Using cheaper cuts of meat and smaller potions.Cutting staff down and putting to much work on CNA's.In the future there will be many accidents and deaths due to low staffing.Unless familys start to care and take legal action on the corporation,it will continue to degrade.

95

Dianna BIngham in Vale, North Carolina said: I have been reading all of your comments. I am a CNA in a nursing and rehabilitation center, I find a lot of the same problems you all do. We are also short handed where I work, for the simple fact that our attendance policy is really not inforced like it should be. Some days on first shift we only have 2 CNAs on a hall that is one CNA to 18 residents. It is hard to first get them up feed them, lay them down, get them back up, feed them, and once again lay them down. In between that shower them, get vital signs, and deal with other activities and therapy during everything else. But I'm lucky to have a nurse that helps. I came to this website to do research for an english paper I am currently doing in college, writting a proposal on CNA shortage. I got alot of feedback from this.

When this situation happens, I suggest you call the state inspectors and have them come over an assess the situation. Bet that will get results. That ratio is probably illegal depending on the rules of the state you are in.

In most states their is no laws about cna to resident ratio.None on the federal level either.If you want more insight for your paper email me. katlady2244@yahoo.com

lifeofanurse in Houston, Texas said: Just visited a facility that was 24:1 for nurses and cna's were about 12:1
There is no way that the nurse or CNA can give quality care with that kind of ratio.

On top of that...I watched those call bells ringing and ringing and when I asked...was told "oh the CNA will get to them as soon as they can".

The nurses and cna's are all rotated to work in the dining area serving the residents each meal too. So somehow your supposed to be giving treatments, assisting w/ care and working as waitress and busboys too?

That's one of the best LTC's in the area too. I was told it's 'typical'.

I'm not doing it. I'll go work in a clinic or dr's office and make a lot less money but won't worry everytime I walk in the door that I'm not able to give the care these patients deserve because of the understaffing.

I wish the administrators and "paper pushers" had to spend a week there. Let them have to wait 15 min to be helped to the restroom. Let them eat cold meals because the CNA's are understaffed and they aren't available to assist. Let them be told...we'll get that dirty adult brief changed AFTER breakfast. Or showered 3 days a week IF they are lucky.

UNACCEPTABLE.

I agree with you 100% and little do "they" realize that... As sure as they continue to live; that they too will grow old! I am sure they will eventually "reap what they have sown". This also applies to the politicians and others who are making the laws stiffer than they are. I also agree that we should speak up as citizens and band together in unisom to make our voices heard (a few others have implied this need in their previous posts). I am simply agreeing.

kat in Minneapolis, Minnesota said: As long as Nursing Homes are understaffed,no matter how many visits a family makes it won't help.Would you in your old age want to live in a tiny room ,in a tiny bed with a total stranger as a roommate? Would you want to be told when to bath,wake and go to bed? You are no longer living,You are simply existing and hoping to die.We must look at it threw their eyes.It is very lonely.If you are sane when you move in,it won't take long before you go insane.Often retreating into yourself.Think about it.With a bad economy and getting worse.Familys will have no choice,they must live together and take care of each other.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God bless you, you really seem to have a big heart but may I share this with you? I have actually chatted with geriatric residents and some have sadly broked off into tears and shared some of their feelings. Most who only needed minimum assistance have told me they rather have care given in their homes by a sitter or companion so they could atleast feel a sense of familiarality and remaining dignity. I've also had some tell me (as a last result) they would rather spend their days at the nursing home (or assisted living) rather than to remain a burden on their families. Some have stated they could not bear their kids having to change their briefs/diapers from urine and poop, they could not dare think of putting what most of them referred to as "burdens" on their love ones. But most sane and caring hearted geriatric residents greatly appreciate the "TLC" or tender loving care from the hard working staff. So, just think...you really do have some elderly people in spite of the staff shortage who would sacrifice living in a nsg. home oppossed to having their love ones care for them.
I know...it's hard to imagine favoring a "dinky" nsg. home but there are exceptions. With our economy the way it is many families can no longer afford to hire private nurses n pay them fairly.

Continued Post:

Therefore, I also agree that caring families who will atleast visit their love ones frequenty can benefit their elderly love ones tremendously. I too have witness residents who had frequenty and routine family visits got preferential treatment or care in oppossed to some of the residents who had few or no family visitations. Frankly, I have told my peers I refuse to give preferential care to some and not others. In my eyesight, they ALL deserve the same and best quality care I could feasibly give.

I am a nurse in a skilled (supposedly Unskilled unit) evenings...1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. 1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. State giving medications out 7pm (have tried different routines and come up all meds starting at this time). Have 6 pts that cannot sit up in w/c at diningroom table and cannot feef themselves. (Remember now....1 nurse and 1 CNA)
============
I don't care what the state ratio charts show, hun you are understaffed, After reading your post I began to get the impression based on your wordings that you view your co-wrker/CNA more as a team member and already whether you know it or not...you are "ahead of the game". During challenging times its best to create good repoire among workers. Also, I realize you are facing quite a burden due to all the responsibilities, demands and even worse the "charge" passing the buck. Ok, she definitely violated by not giving you the pertinent details on the new admission. Do you think she cared? Obviously not, and what type of prefessionalism is that? The CNA is evidently stressed as well...and to think you are even held accountable depending on what it is,for duties the CNA was not able to or didn't complete. Also, dealing with family members can be very nerve wreckig if they are in-sensitive. Now, I feel you shoul ask yourself one major question. Am I putting my license at risk? Or is this situation worth risking my license? I realize jobs are harder to avail, due to our economy but I think it wouldn't be a bad ideal to start searching for another facility that will offer a better chance of you maintaing your license. Remember, never quit a job to look for another one. Always keep the one you have until you are securely positioned for the new one. With all the "red tape" and employee abuse running through most facilities you always need a "back-up" system anyway. Hopefully, you'll find an even better job, you deserve better.

Cont'd: UPMOST IMPORTANCE

On interviews remember to inquire about nsg. ratio's (they might lie about it or stretch the truth) but atleast ask. As much as we need the employers; they need us.
Agencies are very flexible and allow you to choose the facility you desire to work most of the time. As much as I've loved agencies, I have never preferred them over a job that guarantee the hours. Some in the profession sign up with several agencies at a time.
If you prefer NOT to consider leaving you might want to discuss the situation with your superiors first(if you haven't alreay) Guess I'm wrong for assumming you already have contacted your bosses....Sorry, I screwed and I can't reverse my post but I would highly recommend first following the chain of comman concerning your situation and then maybe consider other options that will safeguard your license a bit more. Guess, I'm a bit tired and need some sleep....so I'm better abled to sequence my thoughts.(lol)!

Best Wishes....from a "sleepy head".

OK, everybody...my keyboard....keys are stickng bad n I have made many typo error n needing that sleep badly...to all the spelling/grammar peeps out there...plz forgive me (lol).

"Shout outs to all you lovely peeps on the discussion board!!!"

Bev in Memphis, Tennessee said: On my job they are telling us it is okay to work 24 patients to one Cna, somehow I think this is very unfair to both patients and the night Cna's...by the way I am on the night shift. By the end of my shift I am really exhausted and have to take 2 tylenols for back releif regardless or proper body mechanics I enforced during rounds. Oh yeah and then they would like for us to wash wheelchairs and pass ice regardless of shortage and get up atleast 2 people for the morning shift....Is it just me...Or Isn't this a bit much...Surely there should be a set of "bylaws" to cover this occurrence.

I thin the best approach is to contact politicians directly and keep the issue in front of their faces. By all means join "Support for nurses undergoing investigation/discipline" on facebook.

Me (I don't dare use my name) in Greer, South Carolina said: I am a nurse in a skilled (supposedly Unskilled unit) evenings...1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. 1 CNA to 31 (supposedly unskilled) pts. State giving medications out 7pm (have tried different routines and come up all meds starting at this time). Have 6 pts that cannot sit up in w/c at diningroom table and cannot feef themselves. (Remember now....1 nurse and 1 CNA). We are expected to serve all dinner...make sure all are fed, cleaned from dinner, atleast 9 showered before bed, more than that briefs changed from what ever surprise we find there. Put to bed, now all of this is being done by 1 Aide and the nurse is scrambling to pass out medications that are ordered, deal with issues from patients that can voice them pertaining to their care, tv molume, changing tv stations, ETC, you name it they ask for. Then there is the families that come in for visits breathing down your neck wanting to know why there is only 1 nurse and 1 aide, where is Dads' teeth, comb, tv remote, ETC fantasticle demands that some are humanly impossible to obtain. Moms' galsses aren't where she said they are suppose to be, the list is too long to mention including Moms unmentionables. With all this is going on....Unit Charge nurse has left and expects the nurse to finish the 12 noon new admission that came in...Admission?
Who is it and where are they? what room number? Where did they come from? What is their Diagnosis? Where and what is/are their Medication orders and for that matter where are their medication?: they have been here since 12 noon and nothing has been done for them??????? Screwit it you say??? You have to finish the admission! ??????? It hasn't been started yet....no assessment...no body audit...was that skin tear there when they were brought in???? The money this company makes off these pts. is outrageous! I'm talking >$5000.00 a month! First shift...god forbid they are short one aide or nurse! Third

frustrated in Abrams, Wisconsin said: I dont even think it should be a resident to aide ratio...staffing should be based on the minutes each resident needs. Some need 10 and some need 45 minutes. Then the state comes through the facilites and makes judgement on every little thing a cna misses. Im quite sure it wasn't cnas who voted to care for 10 full cares with 2 meals in 8 hrs. Someday maybe the state surveyers will get to live in a nursing home :)

Do you know the ratio cna/patient/resident in wisconsin?

I am a 35-year-old quadriplegic that has been in a nursing home for the past 18 months with two stage for wounds in my right butt cheek that tunneled and met each other in the middle. This situation has completely changed my outlook on nursing homes, and how the people in them are mistreated. I have written to both of my States Senators, the Attorney General and the Agency for Health Care Administration.

The Agency came out and did a survey recently. That information was free to review off their website and have done so. I have also bought a miniature video camera and recorded first-hand some of the neglect and stupidity that has happened to me here.

I have started a Facebook group about the problems with Medicare-Medicaid-SSI cuts and how that is only going to make the nursing home industry worse than it already is. In the past few years alone, the government has given away over $150 billion in foreign economic aid. Then they turn around and cut it from the people that built this country, I know I'm not comfortable watching it happen, and if think you aren't either or you wouldn't be working in the jobs you are.

Please check out my Facebook group, and if you want to send me a message I'll give you my YouTube channel www.facebook.com then search for Stop The US Budget Cuts To Nursing Homes Medicare and SSI

THe truth is the government does not care about the sick ,the poor or the elderly.They are considered a drain on society and better off dead.That is why nursing homes are not kept up like they should be.AARP could give voice to this bad system,but it doesn't.Those with money count.Those without don't.That is the thuth that keeps things as they are.

Been There in Modesto, California said: Several years ago, I took a position with a local nursing home as a discharge planner. Unfortunately, the cna's in this facility did not work hard. I found them on break just about every hour and the patients were not cared for. I would answer call lights myself even though, I was not a floor nurse and not hired to provide direct patient care.
The Nursing director, myself and several staff nurses held a meeting to address the inadequacy of patient care because of these nurses aides. The aides became very angry, there really was no postive outcome. It was a very frustrating situation and one of the reasons I left. It was a shame too, because each aide had no more than 7 patients each day, the elderly patients should have been given decent care.

I have to ask have you ever been an aide? I am one and what we have to go through on a daily basis is rediculous! I am daily hit, smacked, spit on ect. and I tell my nurses and they tell me its part of my job. It shouldnt't be. Might I also ask when an aide comes to you with a problem is it adressed or ignored. I actually called state on my facility for making me care for over 50 residents a night because I filed several complaints mentioning that I could not provide the proper care for that great of a number. It was never adressed until the investigation.

feed-up cna in Richmond, Virginia said: I hear a lot of cna talking about doing cna work for the wrong reason.Well I'll tell the truth I do this job for ONE reason and ONE reason only THE MONEY. I'm a darn good worker always getting koodoos about my work and the first one to help another aide if needed. Not blowing my own horn but when other aides give you koodoos you're doing something right and it's not about love for the residents it's about having a work ethic that makes you do the best job you can do. I LOVED my mother and took care of her and would never put someone I CARED about in a nursing facility. It's a two way street there are sorry nurses and aides.So those of you that do this kind of work for reasons other than a pay check GIVE YOUR PAY CHECK TO CHARITY.

Dear God! DO NOT TAKE CARE OF ANY OF MY LOVED ONES!!!!

Glad I found this site. I've been working in an "assisted" facility in N.C. for a year, and I would like to warn any CNA's or soon to be CNA's of some problems I've come across. For one thing, if you feel you're working too hard because of understaffing, (and you probably are), be aware that someday you'll probably be accused of neglect. There's just not enough time to care for your residents properly, and when someone falls, the company will find you responsible, not them and their policies. If you have more then a 20/1 CNA to resident ratio, get out of there before you lose your certification due to neglect. It's happening to me right now, and believe me, it's a nightmare. If you start seeing people getting wrote up for insignificant infractions, get out of there. If the work enviroment has suddenly gone toxic (perhaps due to a new administration), get out of there. If you see the writing on the wall, get out of there.

I walked off before & they did not flag me. I came in did my set meaning vitals, ice/water, had me a stash of linen, w/c patients were up for dinner, showered who needed showering... changed & took all to the restroom that needed it. I was completely ready for dinner. An CNA in another area of the nursing center had leave work. The ADMIN move me because I had less seniority to the assignment. I moved cause I was the newbie. Well when I say wasn't nothing done to the assignment... I mean nothing had been done!! Mentally I had to get my head together cause I was pissed. I had to start form the beginning minutes before dinner. Meaning no one showered, no one has been transferred to w/c, no one been to the restroom, new vitals, & I would have to hunt for more linens towels etc. I was asking questions to the nurses trying to see who was going to help me transfer my people. Two people would be faster & I would catch up a little with some help. The administer heard me & in her office from the nursing station. The station & her office are next to each other. She began to go in on me. Her exact statement was"there is no discussion just do it!" I fooled around took my break til I could arrange my ride to pick me up. Then from the break room when I notice my ride... I returned to the floor & told her "she was correct that it is no discussion and that she should do it herself!" With those words I departed and went home. Now do not get m wrong in hindsight it wasn't fair to the staff or the patients but I wouldn't have been help to anyone in the mental state I was in. I have worked as a CNA in OB/GYN Med. Surg ER Children Cancer Unit, Adult Mental Health, Long Term Care, Private Duty, in NV, CA, MI! In all my years of working I have learned that is that you must use the job as a stepping stone to get LPN or RN. Move on! I currently working as a Nanny... just got my Bachelors of Science in Human Service Mgt. next is my Master's Clinical Mental Health.

Mary 1Nurse in Louisville, Kentucky said: The Nurse should had assisted the resident with the bed pan, but please understand. The nurses have an enormous work load also. Once they get behind or at the end of the shift, the CNA can not hang around and help them complete their work. As a nurse, when passing meds, you actually only have a one hour window. It is very important to keep on schedule, one because you have a heavy meds pass, two, residents will start calling out all at once and stress you out or cause med errors and three, some residents get the same med every four hours so you time is limited. Med passes are actually supposed to be uninterupted! The nurse does not have time to assist several patients with toileting or dressing. How many times does a resident say " will you help me to the commode, then will you get my red shirt out so I can change, then, now I want to lay down for a while. The nurse WILL in fact call the CNA because she can not allot the time needed. Sure a nurse can do all the tings she request from the CNA's, but then, who is going to complete the Nurses work?

In my state of Ohio, I have been trying to get a petition going to change the ratio of nurses aids to resident.It is outrageous and unsafe and almost impossible to do it all. Our nurses are supposes to help and too often they do not"they didN't go to school to wipe b----". No hopefully you went to school to give people a higher quality of life and if that means wipeing b----, then....I reallt got on forum to give credit to the California nurses for their one day strike to help get help in hospitals etc.Great job !!!! How do we do it in our State(OHIO)>?

Then imagine when there is only one nurse on staff and the CNA's are working the med cart and doing their regular job.This is legal in MN and many states are going that way to save money.

You're kidding!?! OMG the lawsuits.... noone wwill want to take care of anyone anymore.

kat in Minneapolis, Minnesota said: Maybe we need to start reporting these understaffing to our congressman and the local news.

I agree and not only nurses should get to vote on how many staffers are needed ,the stna's and cna's need to be counted. We do the work not the nurses. Contact the President. He wants ideas on making more jobs. This would open the flood gates!

Rena in Youngstown, Ohio said: Hey Everyone! Recently here in Ohio, thanks to our governor, our STNA ratio to patient has changed from 1to 15 to an unlimited number per staff. I am a restorative assistant, so I am not on the floor that often, but my friends who work the floor are now being overworked. I help them everyday to get their patients up, toilet them, and even give showers. I am angry also, because the patients do not get the proper care they deserve when staffing is not up to par...and NO, administrative personnel do not care about the patients, all they care about is money, and how much they can save down grading staff...I pray that things will change and get better for those of you who are being overworked...sometimes unionizing helps. We have a union and when contract time comes we are going to try to enact a patient\staff ratio within our contract. Be blessed everyone, and I pray things will get better for all of you!

We tried unionizing. I do think thats the way to go! I worked at a private nursing home that paid people with the same amount of experience different salaries and some below minimum wage. We had a hearing in Cleveland and the judges were shocked at the ,for a better word abuse. Be aware that management will try to get the people who are for the union to leave one by one. That's what they did at our place. They would ask you to do more and more with less and less so they can get you to give up. Also be sureand get your contract drawn up before a yr. deadline or they will vote you out. Hang in there things will get better if you are unionized. deb in east liverpool, ohio

The government will never pass laws to make staffing larger in nursing homes,because S.S. is cutting back on what they will pay nursing homes.Elder care is a drain on government money.They could care less about creating jobs that the government must pay for.Look how many government jobs are being closed down to save money all ready.The poor,sick,children and elderly don't count in our society.If you don't make millions.If you collect social security,welfare,free medical or food stamps,you are considered to be part of the problem of the national debt.

Janice said: First of all, where are you working? Depending on the ownership/ management of your facility, it will make a difference on how you should proceed. I highly recommend you talk to State Dept of Health, "Investigations Division". Was that who you attempted to call on the 800 number, or was it the 800 number to the company for which you work? Do you have a State Ombudsman? Clarify who you were trying to reach and for whom you worked and we can go from there. In the meantime, look immediately for another job.
If you are still employed, even on a suspension, it is not unreasonable to request a potential new employer to not contact your suspending employer. Use co-workers, Charge Nurses, etc. that you have worked with as your references. Let me know the above and I will help you further.

When state comes in once a year to make sure the nursing home is ok,their true purpose is to make the nursing home pay fines on little things( to pad the state piggy bank).Only when many residents die from neglect will a NH be shut down.

When you are saying government do you mean state or federal. Federal gives the money to train and state sets the ratios.

Most states have no laws for cna to resident ratio.When the state fines nursing homes,the state gets the money.The federal government pays for nursing home care if the person can't afford to pay.So it is a drain on the federal piggy bank.The federal government has no laws about cna to resident ratio.

what can we do to change this. Maybe a petition on the White House web site? We have got to do something. The situation will only get worse.

I have read several of these posts. Nursing at any education level should have a union. And if not a union, I think each Resident Care Facility should have a person/counselor on-site that is just there for the staff. I have been a STNA for 20 years. I have a associate-degree in Computer-Aided Drafting and I do lots of self-continual education. So, I am far from "un-educated". For the last three years I had the opportunity to be the aide I wanted to be. I have worked with one individual in his home. In September his Parkinson's and health took a decline and making changes to the home for adequate care was not an option. He is now a resident at a Nursing Home. They have kept me as an assistant and I am with him from 8a-1p each day and his daughter comes in for a few hours. After the first week I cried for almost 2 hours. It broke my heart to have him there. All the aides care, some are a little lazier than others or less able to time-management, but I feel they all do there best. Resident Care and Nurses Aides Responsibilities...has alway been my "soapbox". And now I'm right back on it. I talk to them on break. The majority have public healthcare(medicaid) for atleast there children if not also for themselves because the wages are so low and health insurance is so costly they can't afford it. It is a physically, mentally, emotionally draining and rewarding job. When my postition ends I will not go back to working in this industry. Not because I don't like what I do, I have a gift to relate to elderly people, but because of the way the whole industy is set up. It is a shame that the person who owns the facility has a million dollar chandalier in his foyer but aides do not have clean wash rags to take care of residents. I'm not sure more or different laws will help. What needs to change is the owners hearts and minds. People are not cattle and you should be held to a much higher standard if your riches from the lives of the most vulnerable in societ

I worked in the business for 3 years and now looking for a less stressful job.Since my experiences of nursing home understaffing and warehousing of human beings for profit, I feel these places should be shut down.That money should be spent on home health.A person should have freedom and the right to live in their own home their entire lives.In our society we feel elders should be hidden away and forgotten.We have even brainwashed our elders that they should seperate from society when they turn a certain age and live in over 55 trailer parks,independant living places,ast living and then nursing homes.They are considered helpless and brainless when they get old.This is not true.Could you imagine living in a small room with a roommate,with a twin size bed.No tv unless a family member buys you one.You have zero rights.You are told when and what to eat.When to sleep.When to shower.Most of your time is spent in bed,wheelchair or chair in the common room.Only one hour of activity time 5 days a week.You are bored and unstimulated.You are surrounded by strangers.You are considered a drain on society since taxes pay for your upkeep and medications.This is sad and a view that must change.

MOUNTAINLASSY in East Liverpool, Ohio said: You're kidding!?! OMG the lawsuits.... noone wwill want to take care of anyone anymore.

Many NH are now getting workers from 3rd world countrys.Churches bring them into this country and help them find jobs.Working hard at low wages is ok with them.They are used to living 2-3 familys in two rooms,so they will work cheap.They are becoming the new CNA work force.Americans no longer want this terrible job,because of low pay and bad working conditions.

Im an stna for 3 yrs now and currently out of work because of working 5 days in a row and the last day I worked I had 19 patients. For 2 weeks now ive been on about 6 medications for severe pain and finally an xray showed I injured my clavical and might require surgery. Now I will file for workers comp. I dont care how many times you use proper body mechanics, gait belts and hoyer lifts when there is 19 patients that most are bed ridden and triple your size your body takes a beating especially on 3rd shift when u have about 2hrs to get patients up and dressed for the day and all 19 changed so they are dry. for all the physical work stna do I believe we are severly underpaid.

It is a bad job and until laws are passed to change things,it is best if we don't do it.If they have zero employees ,they will have no choice,but to change things.Try home health instead.

Mary 1Nurse in Louisville, Kentucky said: when I was told by an Administrator that CNA's "come a dime a dozen"

You too? our DON has told us this during inservices. I 2p-10p, currently we're staffing 2/26 on one unit and 3/35 on the other. 6 showers per unit to be done between 2 and 4 pm. Along with ice, first rounds, ets. Most of our residents are under 75. About a quarter are there because of strokes caused by drug use. Two of our residents are even on federal parole. So you can imagine the behaviors...

Rene in Saint Joseph, Missouri said: Hey used2much believe me I feel your pain. We Cna's are never appreciated & many times at inservice meetings you hear "Anyone can answer a call light" that's crap! I have only probably seen maybe 1 or 2 nurses in my 20 yrs. in nursing homes get off their butt and answer one. They love to bark orders at us but when we are swamped with trying to rush in getting everything done do you really think the nurses are gonna try helping us. Hell no! I too use to love my job but it's the management that makes Cna's want to quit this field completely. I don't mind always having to work short staffed cuz you get use to it. But when you hear management say we are a dime a dozen really makes you want to tell them to kiss your ass! The good ones are very hard to replace!

Wow,I thought these type of negative experiences that I also endure as a CNA were isolated to just Alabama.But,it disturbs me even more to know that these type experiences and tacky CLICHES and stereotypes about CNA's being dumb or "coming a dime a dozen" are practically world wide based upon the several comments I've read on this site.I have been a CNA for 8 years and recently injured myself on the job which resulted in me having 2 shoulder surgeries.I am and have been in school on and off due to other financial obligations.I use to love my job and I was Damn good at what I did and I have covered many nurses butts simply by being the eyes and ears and most importantly being an advocate for the patients I cared for.CNA's are definitely valueable to the healthcare feild and it is sad that we are beaten down so low by not only some of the family members and combative patients,but also by each other and the administration.Many of us do not have a degree,but we have something that can never be taught in any book or classroom, "COMPASSION".

amanda in West Warwick, Rhode Island said: this is sick . something needs to be done . politicians cant keep just passing the buck i cant beleive there aren't laws that prevent as a cna myself i feel like something needs to be done . working conditions are awful and they will only get worse . we need betting working conditions so we can provide better care . the residents pay top dollar and are lucky if they get the bare minimum . it is just sad

go to : Change.org/petition federal government to change states right to set ratio of resisent to aids.

We would like to think our government cares about THE PEOPLE,but it isn't true.Government is cutting back what they pay nursing homes.So staffing will go downhill even further.As long as healthcare and elder care are for profit the care will be bad.Most of the money goes into the owners pockets,not the employees or the elder care.Familys are going to return to keeping their elders at home and asking the government to pay for home health.

"Familys are going to return to keeping their elders at home and asking the government to pay for home health."

I can only speak for Minnesota. Back in '06 while taking care of my elderly father, I found out about a state-wide program administered through county that would have me hired through a local home care agency & pay me to look after my Dad ~ state & county way of expressing sympathy & acknowledging caregivers' sacrifices up to & including leaving a job. Unfortunatly, my Dad died totally unexpectedly while the paperwork was in the pipeline. Dad died 12-26-06 & it's now 2-26-12 and I do not know if this state program is still in effect what with all the budget cuts, etc., so even my fellow Minnesotan caregivers need double check on this in case they're thinking of dropping their jobs to look after their parent(s).

GINGER in Loudon, Tennessee said: WHERE I WORK I WORK NIGHTS TO AND NO IT'S NOT FAIR ALOT OF THE TIME WE HAVE JUST 2 CNA WE HAVE 28 RESIDENTS EACH WITH 17 GET UPS AND WHEN WE HAVE 3 CNA WE STILL HAVE 18 EACH AND 17 GET UPS

No one should get up! That is their home,get up list no way! Your DON and your Adminstrator need to take care of that ASAP..l work in nursing home we do not have a get up list.the only people that get's up dr.appt in rehab..in night shift 4 cna's for 60 - 15 each.day shift for 64 7 cna's and 3-11 60 6 cna's..