Searching for the doable in nursing home social work practice

Nursing home social workers were asked to provide information about their current practice circumstances, and to rate relative importance of resident and family psychosocial needs and frequency of functions performed or overseen by social workers to meet these needs. Both consultant and full-time staff social workers practiced under severe time constraints. Practitioners viewed psychosocial needs similarly, but staff and consultants met these needs through somewhat different functions. Findings provide a profile of practice that can contribute to care improvement through a definition of realistic service expectations for which social workers can be accountable.