We have seen the various reports from time to time on the overall impact of understaffing at Pennsylvania Nursing Homes. In this report of 18 of Pennsylvania’s most understaffed nursing care facilities, ten of the eighteen are owned and operated by Manor Care, and three of the 18 are right here in the mid-state, in Chambersburg, Carlisle, and New Bloomfield in Perry County. These reports generally focus around the sub-standard care is causes to the patients who reside or are being cared for in the facilities. Rightfully so.
The untold stories of understaffing in these care facilities is the risk it puts on nursing home employees. I get my fair share of injured nursing home employees. Many times, understaffing is the culprit of these injuries. Most common are lifting injuries. These injuries usually occur when lifting patients. They can occur due to lack of lifting equipment and understaffing. Frequently we see back, neck, and shoulder injuries when it comes to lifting residents. These injuries also occur due to lack of or sped up training due to understaffing. It isn’t just sped up training though, many time it can be faulted to poor training programs.
We also see CNAs and LPNs injured by violent acts of residents. Again, many times it is due to understaffing for patients with medical conditions that cause either violent tendencies or inability to understand or control reaction. Fortunately, health care employees are speaking up regarding violence in health care facilities and demanding protections. OSHA is considering new workplace violence standards.
We also see injuries occur due to lack of staffing because of employee fatigue. Patient care is not easy. It can be quite taxing.
Health care can be a quite rewarding career field. Unfortunately, it is also a dangerous field, as health related work injuries now rank as high as construction work injuries. The focus of understaffing at nursing homes should turn to patient care and employee safety. For more information on workers safety in nursing homes, visit the OSHA website here.
Meanwhile, if you work in a nursing home in Pennsylvania and you have been hurt at work, protect your rights and potential entitlement to benefits. Too many injured CNAs stay silent out of fear of their employer. You don’t need to do that. Contact Mooney & Associates today for a FREE CONSULTATION. Let us help protect you! Call today at 717-200-HURT.
