HEALTH FORUM

Hi all,
as the header says .. team nursing does it work?

The reason I ask is because I work in a nursing home that like many places
is having trouble recruiting staff.

I feel that in our environment that having Team Nursing is not practical...
so I am looking for pointers to information re does it work

thanks in advance Graham

Graham Pemberton wrote ...

Graham,

there really is no quick and easy answer; there are so many variables; you
could just as well argue nothing works.

A better question would be How does it work, followed by (How) can I
apply it my area.

Team nursing will not, by itself, improve morale or reduce staff turnover;
but it can (applied appropriately in suitable environment) improve nursing
care, which can then contribute to staff job satisfaction, then morale, then
staff turnover.

If, for example, the nursing home is on two levels, then there is a good
case for considering having a team for each level; staff would know where
theyd be working each day, thus reducing instantly a major anxiety for some
people. If one area is seen as harder work then you could arrange to
periodically rotate staff, or adjust staff numbers in each area. Such
increased stability would lead to better staff understanding of the need for
flexibility in the case of sickness, for example, rather than (for them) a
random allocation with no continuity for them or the residents.

Thats just one scenario; it all depends on your local situation.

But I emphasise that it is not - ever - a quick fix. If you have
recruitment problems, you need to find out why, and why people leave. As you
say, many places have such problems, but not necessarily for the same
reasons!

Good Luck!

In Nursing homes of 40 beds or less Id have to say .......no

usually you only have one trained nurse per shift ........
you would need at least level 3 NVQ to be leaders under that cover

but can you get GOOD NVQ3 staff and do your management pay them extra?
you would also need a greater staffing level to account for these staff
doing administrative duties associated with team nursing

What owner would cut profits for those type of overheads ????



I know trained staff are difficult to find Im just leaving a Nursing home
to take up a post with a training/assessing firm doesnt look too good for
replacing me yet except by overseas staff
No problems there -- although a quote from one lady is worthwhile


I dont mind what they look like as long as I can understand what they say



--
Regards
From
Gray
RN1 & 2 - A1(care)

The Madcaravanner from Chesterfield
www.madcaravanner.co.uk
You dont have to be mad but it helps




Graham Pemberton wrote in
message news:cgcd7g$28r$1@newsg4.svr.pol.co.uk...


---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.742 / Virus Database: 495 - Release Date: 19/08/2004