Saf Health Work.  2018 Dec;9(4):408-415. 10.1016/j.shaw.2017.12.002.

Nursing Home Employee and Resident Satisfaction and Resident Care Outcomes

• Plaku-Alakbarova B
• Punnett L
• Gore RJ
• Procare Research Team

• KMID: 2430716
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1016/j.shaw.2017.12.002

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Nursing home resident care is an ongoing topic of public discussion, and there is great interest in improving the quality of resident care. This study investigated the association between nursing home employees' job satisfaction and residents' satisfaction with care and medical outcomes.
METHODS
Employee and resident satisfaction were measured by questionnaire in 175 skilled nursing facilities in the eastern United States from 2005 to 2009. Facility-level data on residents' pressure ulcers, medically unexplained weight loss, and falls were obtained from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Long-Term Care Minimum Data Set. The association between employee satisfaction and resident satisfaction was examined with multiple and multilevel linear regression. Associations between employee satisfaction and the rates of pressure ulcers, weight loss, and falls were examined with simple and multilevel Poisson regression.
RESULTS
A 1-point increase in overall employee satisfaction was associated with an increase of 17.4 points (scale 0-100) in the satisfaction of residents and family members (p < 0.0001) and a 19% decrease in the incidence of resident falls, weight loss, and pressure ulcers combined (p < 0.0001), after adjusting for staffing ratio and percentage of resident-days paid by Medicaid.
CONCLUSION
Job satisfaction of nursing home employees is associated with lower rates of resident injuries and higher resident satisfaction with care. A supportive work environment may help increase quality of care in the nation's nursing homes.

Keyword

Environment of care; Job satisfaction; Nursing home; Pressure ulcers; Work environment

MeSH Terms

Accidental Falls
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (U.S.)
Dataset
Humans
Incidence
Job Satisfaction
Linear Models
Long-Term Care
Medicaid
Nursing Homes*
Nursing*
Pressure Ulcer
Skilled Nursing Facilities
United States
Weight Loss