Staffing and what to ask
Reviewed by the KELN editorial team
Last updated:
Staffing is one of the most important things to understand about a nursing home. CMS reports staffing from payroll records each quarter.
Nurse hours per resident per day
This is the total hours of registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and nurse aides divided by the number of residents. More hours generally means more hands-on time for each resident.
Nursing staff turnover
This is the share of nursing staff who left over a 12 month period. Lower turnover often means more consistent care from people who know the residents.
Questions to ask on a visit
- How many residents does each aide care for on day, evening, and night shifts?
- Is a registered nurse on site 24 hours a day?
- How often do you use agency or temporary staff?
- How long have the director of nursing and administrator been here?
- How are care plans made, and how are families involved?
- What happened with the most recent inspection findings?
This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice.