Advocates push for nursing home staffing standards: 'We don't want to work in toxic environments'
Henrico delegate introduced bill to set a staffing standard, but House only approved a study
A group of advocates took its concerns over nursing home quality to the state capitol on Tuesday, hoping to catch the attention of lawmakers.
One of their top priorities is for Virginia to establish a minimum staffing standard, something certified nursing assistant Victoria Jackson said would protect not only residents, but also staff.
Jackson used to work in nursing homes but left the industry due to what she called burnout, poor conditions, and fear of retaliation for speaking out about the issues. She believes a staffing requirement could force better workplace culture and lead to improved retention.
“We don't want to work in toxic work environments," Jackson said. "We need to be compensated fairly for what we do, because we're charged with keeping people alive and safe, and we get treated like we're disposable."
Del. Rodney Willett (D-Henrico) did introduce a bill this session that would have set a staffing standard in Virginia, but it was turned into a study by the time it passed the House.
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