Contending with "problem behaviors" in the nursing home

Despite the pervasiveness of challenging resident behaviors in U.S. nursing homes, the staff who work in these facilities typically have little training in mental health or behavior management. This article, based on ethnographic research in a U.S. nursing home that served a predominantly psychiatrically disabled clientele, explores how staff conceptualized and dealt with difficult resident behaviors. It investigates formal and informal strategies used by staff to contend with problematic resident behavior, as well as the obstacles--both internal and external--to effective behavior management in this context.