4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving

Here’s my latest article on McKnight’s Long-Term Care News:

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4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving

Once, when I worked for a managed care company, I rode down a packed elevator with the CEO, who commented drily on the crowd, saying, “It must be 5:01.”

What I thought, but did not say, was that there were reasons his staff members weren’t staying more than a minute past the hour. It was a reflection of a disengaged workforce without connections to the job or each other that might extend to a post-work conversation. (It should come as no surprise that I left my position shortly after this elevator ride.)

To stem the tide of departures, it’s important to find out why certified nursing aides are flying out the door either for the evening or for good. Here are some methods for getting the inside scoop:

1. Ask them — It might sound obvious, but it isn’t often done. The National Nursing Assistant Survey (NNAS), conducted in 2004, is an eye-opening view into the lives and challenges of working as an aide on a national level. Adapting the NNAS questions for use in a particular facility — or using an assessment company to measure employee satisfaction — can help determine, among other things, whether the initial training programs you offer meet the needs of your staff or if transportation problems are interfering with their ability to report to work. Such information could lead to relatively easy fixes that reduce turnover.

2. Join them — I spoke with Sarah Poat Stewart, LNHA, CNA, an administrator who trained as an aide and recently worked the 3-11 shift. Stewart, who is based at Signature HealthCARE’s Oakview Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Kentucky, finds her participation as an aide reduces the barriers between management and employees and leads to more respect on both sides. In a video about Signature’s goal to have all staff trained as CNAs, managers who worked on the floor had a better understanding of the jobs done by aides and the tools they need to do so.

3. Read the minds of those who stay — If you can’t roll up your sleeves and help a resident into a Hoyer lift yourself, reading CNA Edge is the next best thing.

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4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving

5 thoughts on “4 ways to find out why your aides are leaving”

  1. Why aides leave their nursing care jobs? This doesn’t, according to saying, require rocket science knowledge to understand. An aides job is usually, except in the rarest facility, a physically exhausting, dirty, unappreciated and literally back breaking job. The aide is constantly exposed to body fluids, sometimes infectious. They are expected to provide basic needs for people in decline who don’t understand the need for care and are often demanding, resistant, combative to the point of being violent. Even if the aide presents with broken bones, workman’s comp generally argues against reimbursement. The aide works under threat of abuse allegations from family, or any untrained eye,and, contrary to running off the job one minute post shift, is legally held at her post until her relief arrives, however long that may take. These jobs are typically offered at the lowest possible pay. To insult conditions further, public health mandates require only 1 nurse and 3 nursing aides to be available for the continual care of approx 80 residents. Of course staff often develop compassionate relationships but at such a disproportionate ratio the overwhelming emotion is usually frustration. Trying to keep the pay level low and instead market these jobs as offering a good feeling for helping others is ridiculous. Yes, aides will respect an administrator willing to get her hands dirty and assist, unless she is overly intimidating or they feel it is just an excuse to spy on them. The administrator had better be effective assisting with manual work or she is just making her aides job more miserable.

    Reply
    • Well said! Covers it all. A CNA role deserves higher pay & respect. The healthcare industry must acknowledge this role and reform/improve the caregivers roles in every healthcare facility or lose good staff & money. Nursing temp agencies are making good profits providing staff services to these no-action facilities. “Wakeup corporations” you are starting to see huge turnover of healthcare staff! Elevate your healthcare staff….it’s your future to stay in the smart!

      Reply
  2. Why do CNA’s leave? Poor supervision, poor management practices. Poor support for the CNA and his or her job. Lack of awareness of the multicultural needs of the CNA, and lack of integration between populations of frail elderly, who are often of a different culture and language, than their CNA’s. Abuse or harrassment of CNA’s by residents in nursing homes.

    Reply
    • Thankfully, Maria, most of the issues you point to can be addressed by effective leadership that makes retaining CNAs a priority.

      Reply
    • Lack of nursing assistant
      Residents that are homeless are no where to go take it out in the hard working assistance.
      Then you try again with a different approach same thing are he no Day u think try again then they don’t like nor want you.

      Reply

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