"This story is part of a series by MinnPost reporter Matthew Blake on Minnesota's efforts to stabilize its nursing home workforce, which has long struggled with high turnover. Part one looks at the state's plan and the pushback to it from nursing home operators. Wednesday's story will delve into nursing homes' complicated financial situations, and Thursday's story will explore the reemergence of workforce standards boards."
"Next March, Mary Voerding is due to celebrate her 30th year at Maplewood Rehabilitation Center, a suburban Twin Cities nursing home where she has worked as a nurse, care coordinator and now front desk receptionist. Cracking jokes last month about how she could not wait to get photographed, Voerding put visitors, patients and management at ease. Like many nursing home workers, Voerding said that she sees her job as a calling to help those in need. Unlike many nursing facility employees, Voerding has stuck around."
Minnesota officials proposed measures to stabilize the nursing home workforce, and many nursing home operators criticized elements of the plan. Many long-term employees remain, such as Mary Voerding, who will mark 30 years at Maplewood Rehabilitation Center and has worked as a nurse, care coordinator and front-desk receptionist. The statewide turnover rate is 36% within one year, based on facilities' reports to the Minnesota Department of Human Services, with retention ranging from 100% at Good Shepherd Lutheran Home to 25% at the Villas at Osseo. Workers describe chronic understaffing, stress, fatigue, and severely shortened sleep for night-shift staff. Financial strains at facilities and renewed attention to workforce standards complicate efforts to improve retention.
Read at MinnPost
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