Know thy residents: an exploration of long-term care nursing staff's knowledge.
Nursing staff's knowledge of residents' lives in long-term care is critical to the provision of quality care, the formation of strong relationships between staff and residents, and the promotion of psychosocial well-being for residents. This study examines the degree to which nursing staff in assisted living facilities and nursing homes know residents in terms of their lives and occupations, family members, tastes and interests, and medical conditions. Quantitative surveys were administered to nursing staff-resident dyads (N = 199) as part of a larger study on quality of life in long-term care. Results indicated that while nursing staff generally knew residents fairly well, a significant percentage of nursing staff reported knowing nothing at all in each of the categorical areas of residents' lives. Implications center on eliminating barriers to knowledge attainment and implementing educational interventions that may augment nursing staff's knowledge of residents.
Anderson
Keith A
KA
The Ohio State University, College of Social Work, Columbus, Ohio 43210-1162, USA. anderson.1630@osu.edu
Taha
Rebecca D
RD
Hosier
Amy F
AF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D040561:Assisted Living Facilities / Q000458:organization & administration; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004521:Educational Measurement; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D006694:Holistic Health; D006801:Humans; D007629:Kentucky; D008134:Long-Term Care / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009728:Nursing Assistants / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000458:organization & administration; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education; D010347:Patient Care Planning