We receive a monthly magazine called Nursing Homes, Long Term Care Management. The magazine is written for long term care businesses and administrators – to discuss the pressing issues affecting the industry. In the June 2007 issue, there is an article by Michael Stoil – entitled, “View on Washington: Will immigration reform solve staffing woes?” Mr. Stoil begins, “Research repeatedly confirms that the quality of long-term care depends on staffing levels.” He then goes on to say that America’s anti-immigration policies have harmed nursing homes, such that “lobbyists for the nursing home industry” have “become reliable advocates for policies that will increase the availability of workers in Asia, Central America, Mexico” etc.
He continues to state that “nursing homes face a systemic shortages of nurses and other clinical staff; they cannot compete with the salaries offerred by hospitals,” and then he lists other health care providers.
I found this article to be VERY interesting. Someone admitting that low staff numbers leads to low care, coupled with the excuse that facilities can’t find anyone else willing to work.
I would love for someone to do a study on how long it takes to fill a CNA position at a Nursing Home, or an LPN position. Months? I seriously doubt it. In smaller towns, these are good jobs. YES, we hear over and over again that wages are an issue, but so is level of staffing. This week alone I have heard at least three nursing home employees tell me their facilities were understaffed, and not because no one was responding to the Want Ads – rather, the facility was not looking to hire.
So, I will leave it up to you – do you think the nursing home industry is really hampered by immigration laws, or are big nursing home businesses looking to capitilize on a work force that typically accepts challenging jobs for less money? You decide. But in the meanwhile, check out the Classified section – are there thousands of CNA, LPN or RN jobs available?