The answer to the question “Why are so many nursing home positions unfilled when nursing schools are graduating nurses at unprecedented rates?” seems to be that nursing homes would like to have highly specialized nurses with multiple years of experience in their fields who are willing to work for non-competitive salaries.
According to McKnights Long–Term Care News, the job search giant conducted a survey of 500 employers including skilled nursing facilities (nursing homes) and other medical facilities. 41% of respondents said they were looking to hire experienced nurses rather than new graduates. 20% said they were looking for nurses with specialized training, and 20% said they were not offering a competitive salary.
This is a fine example of the three-legged stool problem. Experienced nurses cost more than inexperienced nurses. Nurses who have taken additional schooling to learn a specialization also expect to be paid well for their efforts. The idea that nursing homes feel they can have experience and specialization while underpaying their staff would be comical if it weren’t apparently a widespread belief.
Almost half of nursing home openings take more than a month to fill. These positions should be filled in days, not weeks.
When positions go unfilled, the rest of the staff has to cut corners to make up for the lack of manpower. This creates an environment where nursing home abuse and nursing home neglect become much more likely.
Bed sores, nursing home falls, and other injuries can often be attributed to an overworked staff. By putting conditions in job openings that are sure to limit the applicants, nursing homes can claim that they’re trying to fill positions while improving their own bottom line.
If you have a loved one in a Chicago nursing home, and you feel they have been the victims of nursing home neglect or nursing home abuse, contact my law offices for a free and confidential evaluation of your case. Our Chicago nursing home lawyers have the experience and expertise to manage all aspects of your nursing home neglect lawsuit.