Direct Care Staffing Report (03/22/2001)

Attached is a report on how nursing homes have spent the $32 million staffing money that Rep Argenziano questioned "where it went to." The conclusions are remarkable. Please share this report with legislators who have asked about the money and staffing issue. - Bob Asztalos

• Funds were used to enhance salaries of both CNAs and LPNs by approximate total per facility averages of $63,200 for CNAs and $58,700 for LPNs.


• Direct care staffing hours rose by an average total of 5,184 hours per facility for the six month comparison periods. All three nursing (CNA, RN, LPN) categories showed increases.


• CNA salaries rose by an average of $0.87 per hour and LPNs by $0.91 per hour.


• Between the 1999 and the 2000 surveys the number of hours of CNA services purchased from staffing agencies dropped an average of 140 hours per facility. LPN time rose by 176 hours per facility, and RN time rose by 144 hours per facility.

The survey results appear to support the conclusion that nursing homes maximized their staffing options by decreasing the more expensive RN hours and were able to hire more CNAs and LPNs to improve their staffing ratios by increasing both permanent and temporary staffing.

benefits offered to employees of the nursing homes as reflected in the two surveys parallels the salary survey. Improvements in benefits were more evident for CNAs and LPNs.

Overall, the facilities averaged an increase of 2.5 CNAs, 2.4 LPNs and 0.3 RNs.

Turnover ratios at the facilities dropped for all direct care categories. Direct care FTEs increased statewide an average of approximately five direct care staff per facility.

An analysis of the direct care hours found 17 additional direct care hours per facility per day.

Attachment