Sometimes a nursing home patient needs someone to solve a special problem. The urgency becomes especially important when the patient is in hospice care, and death is imminent. “Little White Box” is a video story from “The Life and Times of Roger Dean Kiser.” A hospice volunteer, I was reminded of a hospice story in my own life when I read this story. In my story, I helped to locate a missing key for a beautiful music box owned by a patient who had never heard the box play before.
In “Little White Box,” Mrs. Mathers, a dying patient, keeps saying, “Before I die, my little white box, please.” But no one knows exactly what she means. To her rescue comes a caring and determined CNA/nursing assistant who successfully solves the mystery. With Celine Dion’s breathtaking singing in the background, this story will grab the handle of your heart and make you smile. Click here and enjoy "Little White Box."
Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
Showing posts with label Nurse Aide. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nurse Aide. Show all posts
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Nursing Homes: Managers, CNA’s (Certified Nursing Assistants), Residents
Sometimes I read research that has fairly predictable results. But the fact that the results were discovered through research validates them more. Consider these words: nursing homes, managers, CNA’s, residents, satisfaction. There is a general thread that connects them in a nursing home setting.
It’s common knowledge that managers generally set the tone at the workplace. Having been a school principal, I know that to be true. This research focused on the role managers play in creating a person-centered workplace. In order to develop this kind of workplace, managers must interact with staff in ways that will encourage their satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment. When this is done successfully, residents benefit.
In this 2007 research study explained in the “Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,” CNA’s and residents’ families from 156 nursing facilities completed surveys to measure their satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment. I already knew CNA’s would have plenty to say on this, because these are popular topics when I talk to them at nursing homes I visit as a hospice volunteer. The survey responses were analyzed.
What was the conclusion of the research? You’re probably way ahead of me. The conclusion was that the work setting that managers establish greatly impacts the lives of the CNA’s. Caring managers who produce a person-centered workplace can inspire workers to become excellent caregivers who enhance the lives of patients. This principle is so simple and so important. It’s a shame it’s not practiced in all workplaces.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
It’s common knowledge that managers generally set the tone at the workplace. Having been a school principal, I know that to be true. This research focused on the role managers play in creating a person-centered workplace. In order to develop this kind of workplace, managers must interact with staff in ways that will encourage their satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment. When this is done successfully, residents benefit.
In this 2007 research study explained in the “Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,” CNA’s and residents’ families from 156 nursing facilities completed surveys to measure their satisfaction, loyalty, and commitment. I already knew CNA’s would have plenty to say on this, because these are popular topics when I talk to them at nursing homes I visit as a hospice volunteer. The survey responses were analyzed.
What was the conclusion of the research? You’re probably way ahead of me. The conclusion was that the work setting that managers establish greatly impacts the lives of the CNA’s. Caring managers who produce a person-centered workplace can inspire workers to become excellent caregivers who enhance the lives of patients. This principle is so simple and so important. It’s a shame it’s not practiced in all workplaces.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Celebrating Nurse Aides, CNA’s and Nursing Assistants
They go by several names. During my hospice volunteer rounds in Detroit, I tend to say “nurse aide,” maybe because it’s older and easier to pronounce. But no matter what they are called, they are called often, sometimes too often when there’s a staff shortage. They are generally first responders meeting patients’ needs. Patients frequently think of them first when they evaluate their nursing home experience.
These are two comments I have heard nurse aides express to me about their jobs:
1) “I love working here. It’s not perfect, but we try to work as a team. I treat my patients like they are my family. For some of them, I’m the only one they can really talk to about their true feelings. I know what I do matters.”
2) "This place is depressing. I usually have more patients than I’m supposed to, and nothing I do is enough. It’s low pay with high pressure, but I need the job. It’s not right the way nurse aides and patients are treated here. When I try to make suggestions, nobody listens. I’m really frustrated."
Like people, all nursing homes are not good, and all are not bad. But dedicated nurse aides, no matter where they are, do hard work for low pay and often with little appreciation. A work climate suffers greatly when large numbers of staff stay discontented. Nobody benefits from a negative environment.
Some serious problems that plague nursing homes will require major systemic reform at local, state and federal levels. But administrators of individual nursing homes with negative climates can initiate certain changes themselves by committing to basic reform in staff, patient and caregiver relationships. Welcoming constructive input from all stakeholders validates everyone. Oral or written words of appreciation, when deserved, can go a long way in healing trampled self-esteem. Ongoing opportunities to improve job skills encourage professionalism. An added benefit will be decreased staff turnover. When the word gets around, more nurse aides will choose a nursing home where they feel respected.
As former principal of an urban public school with a high poverty level for many years, I know that setting a positive tone, even under stressful conditions, is a good beginning in changing the culture of any institution. I celebrate everyone who is doing a fine job working in nursing homes, but this post especially celebrates nurse aides, CNA’s and nursing assistants. Cheers to you!
Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
These are two comments I have heard nurse aides express to me about their jobs:
1) “I love working here. It’s not perfect, but we try to work as a team. I treat my patients like they are my family. For some of them, I’m the only one they can really talk to about their true feelings. I know what I do matters.”
2) "This place is depressing. I usually have more patients than I’m supposed to, and nothing I do is enough. It’s low pay with high pressure, but I need the job. It’s not right the way nurse aides and patients are treated here. When I try to make suggestions, nobody listens. I’m really frustrated."
Like people, all nursing homes are not good, and all are not bad. But dedicated nurse aides, no matter where they are, do hard work for low pay and often with little appreciation. A work climate suffers greatly when large numbers of staff stay discontented. Nobody benefits from a negative environment.
Some serious problems that plague nursing homes will require major systemic reform at local, state and federal levels. But administrators of individual nursing homes with negative climates can initiate certain changes themselves by committing to basic reform in staff, patient and caregiver relationships. Welcoming constructive input from all stakeholders validates everyone. Oral or written words of appreciation, when deserved, can go a long way in healing trampled self-esteem. Ongoing opportunities to improve job skills encourage professionalism. An added benefit will be decreased staff turnover. When the word gets around, more nurse aides will choose a nursing home where they feel respected.
As former principal of an urban public school with a high poverty level for many years, I know that setting a positive tone, even under stressful conditions, is a good beginning in changing the culture of any institution. I celebrate everyone who is doing a fine job working in nursing homes, but this post especially celebrates nurse aides, CNA’s and nursing assistants. Cheers to you!
Frances Shani Parker, Author
"Becoming Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes”
Hospice and Nursing Homes Blog
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