August "One for the Ages" Lunchtime Presentation
Join us as we celebrate our centennial anniversary! For 100 years, we have been providing research, education, and service to make a positive difference for the aging population, and we are celebrating this milestone all year long! Throughout the year, we will host virtual presentations covering various topics.
On Friday, August 26 at 12 PM ET, join us for a virtual lunchtime presentation on “No Easy Answer to Nursing Shortage: An Autoethnography of a CNA job,” presented by alumna Jacquelyn Manning Dantis.
No Easy Answer to Nursing Shortage: An Autoethnography of a CNA Job
Nursing shortage and personnel issues are plaguing most of healthcare, from hospitals to skilled nursing facilities. There is an overarching question of how to fix the issue of personnel shortage? Currently, hospitals, nursing homes, rehab facilities, and even some clinics are offering employees hefty incentives such as scholarships, bonuses, registry work, and increased wages to come work for them; yet it appears to not be enough to fill the gap. It is especially not enough for nursing homes that incur significant loss of personnel due to challenging working environments and the inability to compete with employment agencies and hospitals that offer higher wages.
Unfortunately, because of personnel shortages in nursing homes, there is an increase in violations stemming from falls, neglect, abuse, and disease prevention—bedsores top the list of issues related to nursing home care, and hospital-acquired (healthcare overall) infections. Additionally, the past two years with COVID have fostered a heightened level of disdain for care work. The disregard some feel from corporations, management, and board members about their safety has increased the likelihood of nurses leaving those organizations.
Findings from an autoethnographic study as a nursing home assistant will be reviewed. It is concluded that there is no easy fix to this complicated problem. The issue will continue to get worse, at least for nursing homes and low-income communities. Options to improve individual organizations and create culture change will be discussed.
Jacquelyn Manning Dantis - PhD (Miami University)
Jacquelyn graduated from Miami University in 2014 with a PhD in Social Gerontology. During her tenure she also received her certificate in Women’s Studies. She holds a master’s degree in Sociology with a core concentration in Gerontology from Roosevelt University. She is currently working on completion of a certificate in Long-Term Care. For the past several years she has worked at Lewis University and Chicago State as a lecturer and advisor. She has taught successfully in the areas of women’s studies, gerontology, and sociology, which focus on diversity and social inequalities. Her research focuses on diversity, gender, racial and health inequality, long-term care and workplace disparities.