Assessing Job Satisfaction of Nurse Aides in Nursing Homes: The Nursing Home Nurse Aide Job Satisfaction Questionnaire

Abstract COVID-19 has been devastating for Nursing Homes (NHs). The concentration of older adults with underlying chronic conditions inevitably made the setting highly vulnerable leading to high rates of mortality for residents. However, some nursing homes fared better than others. This study examines several quality measures and organizational factors to understand whether these factors are associated with COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin. We combined three datasets from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) – the Star Rating dataset, Provider Information dataset and COVID-19 Nursing Home dataset. Data used is from the period of Jan 1 – Oct 25, 2020 for the state of Wisconsin. The analysis includes 331 free-standing NHs with no missing values from the data sets. The variables used were self-reported information on nursing home ratings, staff shortage, staff reported hours, occupancy rate, number of beds and ownership. Of the 331 NHs examined, shortages were reported of 25.4%, 31.1%, 3.2% and 15.6% of licensed nurse staff (25.4%), nurse aides (31.1%), clinical staff, (3.2%) and other staff (15.6%) Additionally, there was a significant (p<.05) positive correlation between number of beds and COVID-19 cases, and there was no statistically significant association between occupancy rate and COVID-19 cases. NHs with better star ratings were also found to have less COVID-19 cases. Interestingly, private NHs had significantly higher COVID-19 cases than for-profit and government owned NHs, a finding that is congruent with other studies in this area. Recommendations for practice will be discussed.

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Association of care workers’ job satisfaction and global happiness with change of functional performance of severely disabled elderly residents in nursing homes: a cohort and questionnaire study in Japan

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-033937 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. e033937

Author(s):

Shino Ikeda-Sonoda ◽

Nao Ichihara ◽

Jiro Okochi ◽

Arata Takahashi ◽

Hiroaki Miyata

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Functional Performance ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Care Staff ◽

Lower Probability ◽

Disabled Elderly ◽

The Impact

ObjectivesThere is growing concern regarding quality of work life (QWL) among care staff in nursing homes. However, little is known about the impact of QWL on nursing home residents’ functional performance. Recent literature suggests that job satisfaction and happiness of healthcare workers reflect their perceived QWL and impact the quality of their care. This study examined the association between job satisfaction and global happiness with change in functional performance of severely disabled elderly residents in nursing homes.DesignA retrospective cohort study of nursing home residents combined with a questionnaire survey of their care staff.SettingEighteen nursing homes in Japan.ParticipantsData were collected from 1000 residents with a required care level of 3–5 and from 412 care staff in nursing homes between October 2017 and March 2018.Outcomes and explanatory variablesFunctional performance was structurally assessed with ICF (International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health) staging, composed of 52 items concerning activities of daily life, cognitive function and social participation, at baseline and 6 months later. Deterioration and improvement of functional performance were dichotomously defined as such change in any of the items. QWL of care staff was evaluated with a questionnaire including questions about job satisfaction and global happiness.ResultsFunctional performance deteriorated and improved in 23.0% and 12.7% of residents, respectively. Global happiness of care staff was associated with lower probability of residents’ deterioration (adjusted OR, 0.61; CI 0.44 to 0.84). There was no significant correlation between job satisfaction or happiness of care staff and improvement of residents’ functional performance.ConclusionThese results suggest that QWL of care staff is associated with changes in functional performance of elderly people with severe disabilities in nursing homes.

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When Is a Nursing Home Complaint Really a Complaint? Making Sense Out of Increased Complaints in U.S. Nursing Homes

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igab046.3090 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 852-853

Author(s):

Xiao Qiu ◽

Jane Straker ◽

Katherine Abbott

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Urban Areas ◽

Family Satisfaction ◽

Term Care ◽

Making Sense ◽

Nurse Aide ◽

Nursing Home Quality ◽

Director Of Nursing ◽

Occupancy Rates

Abstract Official complaints are one tool for addressing nursing home quality concerns in a timely manner. Similar to trends nationwide, the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) has noticed a trend in increasing nursing home complaints and has partnered with the Scripps Gerontology Center to learn more about facilities that receive complaints. Greater understanding may lead to proactive approaches to addressing and preventing issues. This study relies on two years of statewide Ohio nursing home complaint data. Between 2018 and 2019, the average complaint rate per 100 residents went from 6.59 to 7.06, with more than 70% of complaints unsubstantiated. Complaint information from 629 Ohio nursing homes in 2018 was linked with Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Nursing Home Compare data, the Ohio Biennial Survey of Long-Term Care Facilities, and Ohio Nursing Home Resident and Family Satisfaction Surveys. Using ordered logistic regression analyses, we investigated nursing home providers' characteristics using different levels of complaints and substantiated complaints. Findings suggest that providers with higher complaint rates are located in urban areas, had administrator and/or director of nursing (DON) turnover in the previous 3 years, experienced decreased occupancy rates, had reduced nurse aide retention, and received lower family satisfaction scores. Additionally, providers with administrator and/or DON turnover, and low family satisfaction scores are more likely to have substantiated complaints. Because increasing numbers of complaints are accompanied by relatively low substantiation rates, policy interventions targeted to specific types of providers may improve the cost-effectiveness of complaint resolution, as well as the quality of care.

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Exploring evolving caring relationship experiences among nursing home residents and nurse aides in Shanghai: a dyadic perspective

Ageing and Society ◽

10.1017/s0144686x21001847 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-23

Author(s):

Lin Chen ◽

Qiang Zhu ◽

Ling Xu ◽

Yura Lee ◽

Bum Jung Kim

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Family Environment ◽

Nursing Home Residents ◽

Caring Relationships ◽

Care Giving ◽

Nurse Aide ◽

Emotional Distance ◽

Caring Relationship ◽

Nurse Aides ◽

Residents Attitudes

Abstract Although research has shown that older nursing home residents can benefit from caring relationships with nurse aides, few studies have explored their dyadic, evolving relationship dynamics. Using a dyadic perspective, this study simultaneously explores caring relationships among older residents and nurse aides in Shanghai. In a government-sponsored nursing home in Shanghai, 20 matched resident–nurse aide dyads participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews (N = 40). We performed thematic analysis to interpret and conceptualise the evolving caring relationships within dyads. Four types emerged during the evolution of caring relationships across the 20 dyads: (a) sharing strong rapport, (b) respecting each other, (c) hesitant responding, and (d) keeping emotional distance. Upon placement, all the residents kept emotional distance from nurse aides, and their assigned nurse aides provided care-giving by following nursing home regulations. As time passed, nurse aides began to create a family environment and tried to interact with residents on an emotional level; however, residents’ attitudes varied. The caring relationships in some dyads evolved as rapport and respect emerged, while others remained hesitant and distant. This suggests that residents and nurse aides prioritised caring relationships differently in terms of autonomy preservation and safety protection, respectively. This study sheds light on nursing home practice to facilitate building caring relationships between residents and nurse aides.

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Institutional Loyalty and Job Satisfaction among Nurse Aides in Nursing Homes

Journal of Aging and Health ◽

10.1177/089826439100300103 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 47-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

Lois Grau ◽

Barbara Chandler ◽

Brenda Burton ◽

Doreen Kolditz

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Institutional Loyalty ◽

Nurse Aides

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NURSING HOME ADMINISTRATOR STRESS, SATISFACTION, AND INTENTIONS TO LEAVE

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.1864 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S504-S504

Author(s):

H Wayne Nelson ◽

Bo Kyum Yang ◽

Cyrus Y Engineer ◽

Mary W Carter

Keyword(s):

Job Satisfaction ◽

Nursing Home ◽

Nursing Homes ◽

Role Conflict ◽

Online Survey ◽

Work Load ◽

Job Skills ◽

Nursing Home Administrator ◽

Logistic Regression Models ◽

Work Conflict

Abstract Previous studies reported that high Nursing Home Administrator (NHA) turnover correlates with low staff morale and poorer care outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess how NHA job satisfaction (JS) (in five subscales: job content, coworkers, work demands, work load, work skills, and rewards) interacts with role conflict and ambiguity, autonomy, work conflict, and influence and to estimate the odds of having NHA’s intent to quit by degree of job satisfaction. A total 208 responses were collected from the online survey in 2017 among NHAs currently working in nursing homes in 5 states. We analyzed the data using descriptive statistics and ordinal logistic regression models. The findings suggested that NHAs were generally satisfied in all JS subscales and expressed moderately high levels of autonomy, neutral levels of work conflict, role conflict and role ambiguity. NHAs with good coworker relations (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=0.67), fair job demands (AOR=0.68) and rewards (A0R=0.8), were less likely to harbor quitting intents. Interestingly, NHAs reporting higher job skills were more likely to consider leaving nursing homes (AOR=1.46). Overall, study findings are consistent with previous JS research with the exception that higher perceived skill efficacy was found to be associated with greater likelihood of quitting in the near future. This suggests perhaps that more highly skilled NHAs may now have less tolerance for work discomfort. These findings are presented in the context of earlier studies on NHA turnover as well as likely implications of changing market conditions.

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CARING RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE NURSING HOME IN SHANGHAI: A DYADIC QUALITATIVE STUDY

Innovation in Aging ◽

10.1093/geroni/igz038.2587 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 3 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. S703-S704

Author(s):

Lin Chen ◽

Minzhi Ye ◽

Qiang Zhu

Keyword(s):

Nursing Home ◽

Qualitative Study ◽

Urban China ◽

Relationship Development ◽

Home Setting ◽

Caring Relationships ◽

Nurse Aide ◽

Caring Relationship ◽

Nurse Aides ◽

The Relationship

Abstract Caring relationships between older residents and nurse aides are fundamental in terms of service delivery in nursing homes. However, little is known for the nuanced dynamics of this relationship in China. The purpose of this study is to explore how caring relationships develop between older residents and nurse aides in the nursing home setting in urban China. Informed by the dyadic perspective, this study illustrates the development process and relational nuances by simultaneously eliciting residents’ and nurse aides’ perceptions. This qualitative study purposively sampled 20 matched resident-nurse aide dyads (N= 40) in a government-sponsored nursing home in Shanghai. Participants participated in semi-structured, in-depth interviews from January to June 2017. Thematic analysis was performed. The findings reveal that the caring relationship began with nursing home assignment and primarily focused on instrumental assistance. Gradually, emotional involvement grew within dyads and reciprocity emerged. Based on different dyadic perceptions, this study conceptualized four types of caring relationships: (a) parent-child alike, (b) mutually respectful, (c) solo performance, and (d) reasonably detached. The findings suggest that residents and nurse aides could have different views on caring relationships, which further influenced the relationship development. The four types of caring relationships shared some similar traits while differentiating from some of the common types of interactions found in the existing nursing evidence across the world. Chinese filial tradition also influenced the relationship dynamics.

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