How Can We Address the Nursing Home Crisis Effectively?

The nursing shortage is a significant factor in the nursing home crisis. A new federal proposal will result in more nursing jobs and financial aid to nurses.

• A shortage of direct care workers is a significant problem for the nursing home industry.
• In a federal proposal, the role of nurses is highlighted in the fight against the nursing home crisis.
• This proposal will mean that the health care team who complete accredited LPN programs & continuing accreditation process with prerequisite courses would receive more funding and support.

In the last two years, more than 600 nursing homes closed. According to a report by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) and the National Center for Assisted Living, 2023, only three nursing homes will be opened. This is a significant drop from an average of 64 nursing homes annually between 2020 and 2022.

The nursing home sector is facing a nursing home crisis in terms of staffing. A new federal proposal may put the healthcare team at the forefront of the solution for the nursing home staff shortage.

The Nursing Home Crisis

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit nursing homes hard. Nursing homes have lost more employees than any other sector of health care settings. Nursing homes lost 250,000 jobs or about 15% of their workforce. While other sectors have recovered from the pandemic and are now back to pre-pandemic levels, nursing homes are not expected to reach their pre-pandemic staffing level until 2026 in clinical settings.

Residents receive substandard care due to chronic staffing shortages in nursing homes. Nursing homes are also unable to meet demand due to labor shortages. A survey conducted in June 2023 found that 55% of nursing homes have had to turn away long-term residents due to labor shortages.

A shortage of nursing home workers has led to a reduction in the size of nearly half of nursing homes. In addition to the closures, over 21,000 residents have been displaced. As the population ages, there will be an increase in demand for long-term services. The nursing home crisis must be addressed urgently. LPN schools near me (nursing school) may help address labor shortages. As part of your clinical rotations in local hospitals, you will also need to complete clinical rotations while doing evidence-based practice.

Possible Solution: The CMS Proposed Rule

The federal government has a crucial nursing role to play in the fight against nursing home crises. In 2021, taxpayers spent over 70 percent of nursing homes’ time on long-term support and services. 

In September 2023, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services HHS) proposed new rules for nursing homes. The new rules would increase professional nursing staffing standards and expand the nursing workforce if implemented. The CMS proposal also provides financial assistance.

Federal Standard for Staffing Levels

A higher staffing level correlates with better patient outcomes and higher levels of quality. In a 2020 study of Connecticut nursing homes, for example, an increase in RN staffing led to 22% fewer COVID-19 cases and 26% fewer deaths related to COVID-19.

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Accountability in Nursing Homes Increased

HHS announced changes to improve patient safety and care in the long run. However, HHS has also made immediate changes. CMS, for example, will be increasing its audits on staffing data to identify nursing homes that are not meeting standards

What Does This Mean for Nurses?

What will this new federal rule for health care providers mean? If adopted, the law would mean that long-term care facilities hire more staff to comply with federal regulations.

According to an analysis by KFF, most nursing homes would have to hire more staff. In the next three to four years, 90% of for-profit facilities must increase staff. 60% of nursing staff would be needed in government and nonprofit facilities.

In certain states, the demand for practical nurses will be higher. KFF found that less than one in four professional healthcare facilities meet the current staffing minimum requirements in more than half of the states, including all the states in the South and Mid-Atlantic region.

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Nurses can expect increased demand for licensed nurses at long-term care facilities, even if the final rule changes the education requirements. The federal government will also likely continue investing in scholarship, grant, and tuition reimbursement programs for prospective students. Licensed practical nursing programs at community colleges are also here to learn clinical experience and also help to broaden your scope of practice.