LA Times Reveals Unqualified Temp Nurses Working in Hospitals, Nursing Homes
When loved ones enter the hospital or assisted living centers, we expect them to receive quality care from experienced professionals. But what if your family member was actually being ignored by a recently hired nurse whose license was suspended in another state? A recent report by the LA Times detailed that exact situation, and reveals similar situations occur more than we realize.
The problem the article explores is the lack of oversight in the temporary nurse staffing industry. Staffing companies provide temp nurses to hospitals and nursing homes when demand increases or if the nursing home prefers to use temp staffing. While these companies are needed to help keep nursing homes and hospitals staffed, problems arise when neither the temp company nor the nursing home perform background checks on the temp nurse.
The Arizona Republic reported that these temp nurses have been known to steal medication, fall asleep on the job, and even fail to perform critical tests on patients. Nurses can be disciplined at other hospitals and even lose their licenses, but moving to another state lets them get hired again, putting patients at risk.
This study illustrates that seniors in nursing homes rely on quality care from the institution as well as their individual caregivers. A normally decent home could unwittingly hire a neglectful nurse who doesn't give your loved one the proper care or attention needed and deserved. When visiting family in a nursing home, it is critical to know the signs of neglect and prevent such problems from escalating to serious health concerns.
