Peoria Inadequate Training of Nursing Home Staff Lawyers
The Dangers of Poor Training in Nursing Homes
The nursing home environment should be one of safety and care, but nursing home residents are sometimes put at risk due to neglect or abuse. In many cases, injuries occur because nursing homes fail to provide adequate training for their staff. This lack of training can lead to situations that cause physical, emotional, and financial harm to patients and their families. In these cases, family members will need to determine what they can do to make sure a nursing home is held responsible for negligence that caused their loved one to suffer harm.
At Nursing Home Injury Center, we work to help families affected by nursing home negligence determine the steps they can take to protect their loved ones’ best interests. We can help determine whether a nursing home failed to ensure that staff members were properly trained, and we can establish that a person’s injuries were the direct result of this type of negligence. In addition to helping a family ensure that their loved one’s health and safety will be protected, we can work with them to take actions that will protect nursing home residents from being affected by these issues in the future.
Staff Training Requirements in Nursing Homes
There are certain requirements that apply to nursing homes and supportive living facilities that provide 24-hour supervision, assistance with daily activities, and services meant to address the health and medical needs of patients. Illinois regulations require a full-time manager to be on staff, and staff members who provide personal care services and assistance with medications must be certified nursing assistants (CNAs). If medications will be administered to patients, or if certain types of medical treatments will be provided, these duties must be performed by a licensed nurse. A nursing home must also have response/security staff who can address emergency situations, provide resuscitation when needed, and address other needs.
Certain numbers of staff members must be working at a supportive living facility. At least one CNA must be on duty at all times. Facilities with 75 or fewer residents must have one response/security staff member on duty, while facilities with 75 to 150 residents must have two of these staff members, and facilities with more than 150 residents must have three security staff members working. A facility must also ensure that it always has a sufficient number of people on staff who are properly trained and qualified to provide services that meet patients’ scheduled and unscheduled needs.
Nursing home staff members must receive training to ensure that they are fully prepared to provide the necessary care for residents. A nursing home must provide documented training that covers topics such as responsibility for addressing patients’ needs, methods of preventing or controlling infections, preventing and reporting abuse and neglect, protecting and preserving the dignity and privacy of patients, encouraging independence for residents as much as possible, and methods of working with elderly people and those who are disabled. Any staff members who will be working as nursing assistants must either be certified or enrolled in programs that will allow them to become certified.
When staff members are not properly trained, this can lead to situations where nursing home residents are put at risk of harm. Staff members without the necessary medical training may be unable to recognize symptoms of serious illnesses or other health issues, resulting in a lack of medical care for patients who need it. Medication errors may also occur if untrained staff members administer medications or supervise patients who are taking medications. Issues related to training may result in improper wound care, improper care for patients with diabetes, or failure to address issues that affect residents with Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. Other injuries or health issues may occur if staff members do not have the training necessary to ensure that they can meet patients’ needs at all times.
Responding to Injuries Caused by Lack of Training for Nursing Home Staff
A nursing home is responsible for ensuring that all staff members are properly trained and qualified to provide services that meet patients’ needs. Negligence in this area may lead to serious injuries, illnesses, or even wrongful death for nursing home residents. If you believe your loved one has been injured due to a nursing home’s inadequate training of its staff, the team at Nursing Home Injury Center can help you take steps to hold the facility’s owners accountable for their negligence. We will fight for justice on behalf of your loved one and your family. Contact us at 309-524-6900 to arrange a free consultation.
