Work organization is an important predictor of nurse assistant's health. In addition, nursing home deficiencies are an outcome work organization that inflicts major social and economic burden on residents, families and communities. However, little attention has been given to date to the examination of the association between work organization, worker health and quality of care in nursing homes. We assess the relationship between organizational characteristics, work organization (non-standard work arrangements, staffing ratios, hazards, physical demands, psychological demands, autonomy, job strain) and quality of care (proportion of residents with pressure sores, restrained, bedfast, eating dependent, incontinent, behavioral symptoms, unplanned weight change, perceptions of quality of care) in fifty-five unionized nursing homes in the states of Ohio and West Virginia. Ecological, individual and qualitative results suggest that work organization does indeed impact quality of care via heightened demands, low autonomy, and increased exposure to hazards. We discuss the potential implications of these findings for work place policies in US nursing homes.
Learning Objectives: List at least three indicators of work organization. List at least three ways whereby work organization may impact the quality of care received by nursing home residents. Suggest one possible organizational intervention to reduce worker strain among nurse assistants that might improve the quality of care in nursing homes
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.