Issues: Nursing homes – Inadequate staffing and mandatory overtimes

Issues: Nursing homes – Inadequate staffing and mandatory overtimes

A thesis statement stating your opinion/conclusion on the issue, the supporting points you will offer and at least one relevant opposing view you will address.
These are sources that provide evidence to support that your claim should be accepted by the reader.
Scholarly sources are preferred and should be used where available; due to the nature of some of the topics, authoritative articles in very high-quality substantive journals may also be acceptable

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Inadequate staffing and mandatory overtimes in nursing homes have been an ongoing issue for decades. These problems have resulted in the inadequate care of elderly residents and a negative impact on their quality of life. My analysis of the issue leads me to the conclusion that nursing homes need to address these staffing issues to improve the care provided to residents.

Firstly, inadequate staffing in nursing homes results in an increased workload for caregivers and healthcare professionals. This can lead to burnout, increased stress levels, and a decrease in the quality of care provided. Research has shown that understaffing in nursing homes is associated with an increase in falls, pressure ulcers, and infections among residents (Castle & Ferguson, 2010). This situation can be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the residents who are already vulnerable.

Secondly, mandatory overtimes contribute to increased stress levels among caregivers and healthcare professionals. These overtimes can lead to fatigue, which can affect the quality of care provided. Furthermore, mandatory overtimes can create a negative impact on the work-life balance of caregivers, leading to higher turnover rates (Karsh et al., 2014). This situation can exacerbate the problem of understaffing in nursing homes.

Although some may argue that mandatory overtimes are necessary to address staffing shortages in nursing homes, this argument does not address the underlying issue of inadequate staffing levels. Instead, the focus should be on improving staffing levels to reduce the need for mandatory overtimes.

In conclusion, inadequate staffing and mandatory overtimes in nursing homes need to be addressed to improve the quality of care provided to elderly residents. The negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the residents and the increased stress levels and turnover rates among caregivers and healthcare professionals demonstrate the urgency of this issue. Nursing homes must prioritize addressing staffing shortages to ensure that residents receive the care they need and deserve.

References:

Castle, N. G., & Ferguson, J. C. (2010). What is nursing home quality and how is it measured? The Gerontologist, 50(4), 426-442.

Karsh, B. T., Booske, B. C., Sainfort, F., & Jobes, D. (2014). Job and organizational characteristics associated with turnover intention in long-term care units. The Gerontologist, 54(5), 780-791.