I would bet most of these jobs in the nursing homes are not really highly skilled nursing jobs. These are probably the people who have to clean up messes, bathe people, change their diapers etc. If you can make the same wage (or a little more) working for McDonald’s which one would you rather do?
You’re probably right. They are likely talking about nurse’s aides.
My sister’s did this work coming out of high school. It is literally back braking work for little money.
The nursing homes were always under staffed. Regulations had a maximum number of patients that an aide was supposed to have and they almost always had double that number. Regulations required two aides to lift a patient or a hoist. There were never enough hoist available and it was a rare thing for another aide to come and help because of the shortage of aides.
The nursing homes always kept the aides understaffed to boost profits. Why the inspectors didn’t fine the homes or shut them down I don’t know.
When I say that it was literally back braking work I refer to the back strains my sisters got because of lifting patients unaided. I don’t blame anyone do this work for taking another job for slightly less pay.
Another issue is becoming emotionally attached to patients that are ignored by their families and near death’s door. Hard work in a lot of ways. I wouldn’t do it for any amount of money.
I agree. Working at a nursing home is a depressing, thankless job. I’m surprised they can keep any staff.
And that’s it. There will be an RN or 2 on staff at each station but all the real work is done by attendants (not sure what their official title is).
My mom spent a couple of months in a nursing home before she passed. All of my interactions were with the attendants. If I actually wanted to speak to an RN I’d have to hunt one down. If they were at the station and I asked for something they would call an attendant to do it.