title: The influence of nurse wage differentials on nursing home staffing and resident care decisions.
abstract: This study examines the extent to which nursing homes adjust staffing and care practices relative to local market conditions. Weighted two-stage least squares regression results suggest that facilities employ more nonprofessional nursing staff in markets in which professional nurse wages are higher. RN staffing levels are higher in markets with a higher percentage of self-pay nursing home residents and a lower percentage of for-profit nursing homes. Controlling for resident characteristics, the use of labor-saving practices is higher in markets with higher average nursing home wages, suggesting that there are economic incentives to hire fewer nursing personnel.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Administration, School of Business and Management, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zinn
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000191:economics*; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000191:economics* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce