Turnover turnaround

• Published in: Health progress (Saint Louis, Mo.) Vol. 86; no. 6; pp. 25 - 30
• Main Author: Hegeman, Carol R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Catholic Health Association of the United States 01.11.2005
• Subjects: Health administration; Humans; Mentors; Nurses' Aides - education; Nurses' Aides - psychology; Nursing Homes - manpower; Nursing Homes - organization & administration; Personnel Loyalty; Personnel Turnover; Staff Development - organization & administration; United States; United States
• ISSN: 0882-1577; 1943-3417

The Foundation for Long Term Care (FLTC) created a program called Growing Strong Roots to help long-term care providers retain certified nurse aides (CNAs) and to enhance the quality of care that new CNAs provide. To adapt elements of existing peer-mentoring programs from around the country, Growing Strong Roots revised them and added new components, including administrator training, supervisor training, "booster sessions," newsletters, and a multisite evaluation. The program focuses on helping new CNAs become part of a facility's culture. Growing Strong Roots was evaluated in 11 diverse nursing homes. Research shows that nursing homes using the system increased their new CNA retention rates by 25 percent. A control group showed an increase of only 10 percent. All nursing homes participating in the project improved their retention rates, some by as much as 41 percent. In March 2005, the American Society on Aging, in collaboration with the Brookdale Center on Aging of Hunter College, New York City, honored Growing Strong Roots with a Best Practices in Human Resources and Aging Award.