Front Line Reporting of Abuse and Neglect
Who is in the best position to report abuse and neglect in a nursing home? The nursing staff, of course. A great many nurses and nurse aides are dedicated caring professionals. Then why aren’t they reporting?
One reason may be is that there isn’t much patient neglect and abuse in nursing homes. However, we know that just isn’t true, so we must look further for the answer.
As it turns out, there is a recent article in the Journal of the American Medical Directors Association (AMDA) which discusses this very issue.
The AMDA article reports on a study done in Iowa and concludes that, although nursing home staff is aware of their duty to report as well as the mechanism for reporting, there is little reporting of neglect and abuse by staff (53% admitted suspicion yet only 35% reported abuse).
The article concludes that the reasons for under-reporting are:
1. Inadequate education and training as to whether actions by fellow caregivers rise to the level of a reportable event.
2. Fear of lack of anonymity.
3. Fear of retaliation by fellow workers and the employer.
4. Inexperience of co-workers in dealing with difficult residents.
5. Staff fatigue resulting from being overworked.
6. Lack of comfort with the reporting agency.
Whatever the reason for inadequate reporting, it is vital to all our welfare that nursing home staff be encouraged and supported in fulfilling their duty to report suspected abuse and neglect.
The “Guardian Blog” will provide information to help both families and professionals assess and improve the quality of nursing home care in Arizona and the Guardian Blog will encourage dialogue with and among its readers.
