Nursing home workforce: perspectives on maintaining and improving staff morale

Area of Science:

• Gerontology
• Healthcare Management
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Direct and indirect care staff in nursing homes face unique challenges when caring for residents with dementia.
• Staff morale is a critical factor influencing workforce retention in long-term care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore nursing home staff perspectives on strategies for maintaining and improving staff morale.
• To identify factors contributing to positive morale among staff providing care to residents with dementia.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis using semi-structured interviews with 327 nursing home staff.
• Thematic analysis was employed to identify patterns related to staff morale within a pragmatic randomized trial.

Main Results:

• Three emergent themes: self-care strategies, peer-to-peer support, and leadership approaches.
• Staff utilize self-care for well-being; peer support manifests through teamwork and mentorship.
• Effective leadership practices, including appreciation and support, significantly impact staff morale.

Conclusions:

• A multi-dimensional approach is vital for sustaining and enhancing nursing home staff morale.
• Prioritizing staff morale is achievable and essential for workforce retention in challenging healthcare environments.
• Implementing supportive policies and practices is recommended to bolster staff morale.