Expert nurse response to workforce recommendations made by The Coronavirus Commission For Safety And Quality In Nursing Homes

COVID-19 has exposed the longstanding internal problems in nursing homes and the weak structures and policies that are meant to protect residents. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services convened the Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in NHs in April, 2020 to address this situation by recommending steps to improve infection prevention and control, safety procedures, and the quality of life of residents in nursing homes. The authors of this paper respond to the Final Report of the Commission and put forth additional recommendations to federal policymakers for meaningful nursing home reform: 1) ensuring 24/7 registered nurse (RN) coverage and adequate compensation to maintain total staffing levels that are based on residents' care needs; 2) ensuring RNs have geriatric nursing and leadership competencies; 3) increasing efforts to recruit and retain the NH workforce, particularly RNs; and 4) supporting care delivery models that strengthen the role of the RN for quality resident-centered care.

Automated summary

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought attention to the internal problems in nursing homes and highlighted the need to improve infection control, safety procedures, and resident quality of life. Meaningful reforms in nursing homes should include ensuring 24/7 RN coverage, improving nurse competencies, enhancing workforce recruitment and retention, as well as supporting care delivery models that strengthen the role of RNs for resident-centered care.