Comments on: Patti Green: We Have to Learn to Speak Up http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/ PHI works to improve long-term care -- by improving the jobs of home health aides, certified nurse aides, & personal care attendants. Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:58:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: kim buxton http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-207 kim buxton Sun, 20 Apr 2008 13:44:59 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-207 i just read your blog, have not been keeping up lately, but glad that there are people like you. i quit a job with hospice after 8 years, because of many things. but mostly because my heart was not with the company anymore. now they treat like i did somthing wrong, after all the money i was directly responsible for donations. i personally have a soft spot for alzheimers and hate to see them in any kind of nursing facility. but i feel helpless, now i am desperate to find a job, but cannot go back to nursing homes, as i am 51 and it about killed me when i was younger. i feel with 15 years experience i should be in high demand, but then they would have to pay me what i am worth, they want the girls right out of school or train them themselves ( 8 day programs) what a joke. they do not have the maturity or training. my suggestion was that they needed a ongoing trainer for the cna to see what skills they need to work on. i agree with you the rns dont need to be supervisors. in fact if they hired mature enough people who are able to work unsupervised and as a team, who needs supervison, its only write ups. i am going to check out some of the web sights you suggested. thanks. also all i ever heard was she needs to be a nurse. like there is something wrong with me if i am intellegent and have more knowledge then some new nurses. kim i just read your blog, have not been keeping up lately, but glad that there are people like you. i quit a job with hospice after 8 years, because of many things. but mostly because my heart was not with the company anymore. now they treat like i did somthing wrong, after all the money i was directly responsible for donations. i personally have a soft spot for alzheimers and hate to see them in any kind of nursing facility. but i feel helpless, now i am desperate to find a job, but cannot go back to nursing homes, as i am 51 and it about killed me when i was younger. i feel with 15 years experience i should be in high demand, but then they would have to pay me what i am worth, they want the girls right out of school or train them themselves ( 8 day programs) what a joke. they do not have the maturity or training. my suggestion was that they needed a ongoing trainer for the cna to see what skills they need to work on. i agree with you the rns dont need to be supervisors. in fact if they hired mature enough people who are able to work unsupervised and as a team, who needs supervison, its only write ups. i am going to check out some of the web sights you suggested. thanks. also all i ever heard was she needs to be a nurse. like there is something wrong with me if i am intellegent and have more knowledge then some new nurses. kim

]]> By: Matt Sevier http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-188 Matt Sevier Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:50:24 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-188 Great article Patti. It is going to be very interesting to see how things change once the baby boomers really start insisting on having a say on how *their* nursing homes are. Great article Patti. It is going to be very interesting to see how things change once the baby boomers really start insisting on having a say on how *their* nursing homes are.

]]> By: Frances Shani Parker http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-185 Frances Shani Parker Tue, 15 Apr 2008 06:41:11 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-185 This was a great interview. As a hospice volunteer in inner-city nursing homes, I am familiar with many of the problems Patti mentions. I respect the work I see dedicated nursing assistants perform, particularly when nursing homes are understaffed. Direct care workers are critical for quality patient care. They definitely deserve more empowerment and compensation. I am optimistic about future culture changes that over 70 million baby boomers can make in long-term care. Patti and her direct-care colleagues provide online services that are excellent resources for workers involved in all levels of healthcare, especially those in nursing homes. These resources keep readers informed and provide needed support for many. This was a great interview. As a hospice volunteer in inner-city nursing homes, I am familiar with many of the problems Patti mentions. I respect the work I see dedicated nursing assistants perform, particularly when nursing homes are understaffed. Direct care workers are critical for quality patient care. They definitely deserve more empowerment and compensation. I am optimistic about future culture changes that over 70 million baby boomers can make in long-term care.

Patti and her direct-care colleagues provide online services that are excellent resources for workers involved in all levels of healthcare, especially those in nursing homes. These resources keep readers informed and provide needed support for many.

]]> By: Corey http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-180 Corey Sat, 12 Apr 2008 16:58:30 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-180 I really enjoyed reading this article. This section caught my eye: "I heard all these stories from aides about how they were being treated, but instead of speaking up for themselves they would just quit. That’s not right either; you can’t just lose all the aides. They have to learn how to speak up and say, ‘Look, I’m not going to put up with it.’” Unfortunately, the only thing these companies understand or pay attention to is the bottom line. Money. Everyone is replaceable and managers do not care if you are overworked. They go to meetings and discuss ways to make more money and often this means more work and no additional compensation. Perhaps if a national "sick-out" day were held to draw attention to the importance of direct care workers? Imagine the chaos if 90% of the direct care staff called in sick on one day throughout the nation? Sure. The consumers would be a bit put out, but that's the point. Who will do the job if we don't? Managers? I have yet to see one so much as put their coffee mugs in the sink when they are done with it, let alone don a pair of gloves and do direct care. It would sure drive the point home that these aides need to be treated with respect and compensated fairly. I am leaving the field myself to go back to school and get into the computer field. After 10 years of hoping for a improvement in pay and wages, I can no longer languish in limbo. I'm really going to miss my consumers and their families, but I have to do what's best for me and my family. This means I have to seek better employment. It's sad when I think of all the training, school and years of experience I have in this field, but I am looking forward to a new start. I'm happy to know that there are some people like Patti Green that are starting to speak out on these issues. I share her pessimism about political solutions and feel that the "Boomers" insistance on quality care will be the only way this industry will get it's collective head out of their behind. I really enjoyed reading this article. This section caught my eye:

“I heard all these stories from aides about how they were being treated, but instead of speaking up for themselves they would just quit. That’s not right either; you can’t just lose all the aides. They have to learn how to speak up and say, ‘Look, I’m not going to put up with it.’”

Unfortunately, the only thing these companies understand or pay attention to is the bottom line. Money. Everyone is replaceable and managers do not care if you are overworked. They go to meetings and discuss ways to make more money and often this means more work and no additional compensation.

Perhaps if a national “sick-out” day were held to draw attention to the importance of direct care workers? Imagine the chaos if 90% of the direct care staff called in sick on one day throughout the nation? Sure. The consumers would be a bit put out, but that’s the point. Who will do the job if we don’t? Managers? I have yet to see one so much as put their coffee mugs in the sink when they are done with it, let alone don a pair of gloves and do direct care. It would sure drive the point home that these aides need to be treated with respect and compensated fairly.

I am leaving the field myself to go back to school and get into the computer field. After 10 years of hoping for a improvement in pay and wages, I can no longer languish in limbo. I’m really going to miss my consumers and their families, but I have to do what’s best for me and my family. This means I have to seek better employment. It’s sad when I think of all the training, school and years of experience I have in this field, but I am looking forward to a new start.

I’m happy to know that there are some people like Patti Green that are starting to speak out on these issues. I share her pessimism about political solutions and feel that the “Boomers” insistance on quality care will be the only way this industry will get it’s collective head out of their behind.

]]> By: Lrry Wenger http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-179 Lrry Wenger Sat, 12 Apr 2008 13:24:40 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-179 Patti - very happy that I have stumbled across your blog. My business is to help human service organizations with leadership issues, including nursing homes. I especially focus on mentoring and coaching people who are new to supervision responsibility. There are lots of coaches for people "at the top"; very few who look at the other end of the table of organization...where all the action is. Recently I purchased a software license to do webinars, so that I can deliver my services on the web as well as on-site. I wanted to tell you that this coming Wednesday morning at 2 a.m., I am going to hold a webinar for overnight staff. It will last 30-40 minutes, so they will not be away from their work very long. The webinar will focus on some of the leadership skills needed by folks who work while everyone else sleeps. This will be appropriate for anyone regardless of title; I believe that everyone can and should be a leader regardless of formal responsibility. We will also spend some time at the first session getting input from those who participate regarding topics they would like to discuss. If you know of anyone who might be interested in this, please have them call me at 877-872-6195; advance registration is required for the webinars. The fee for the webinar is $50 for four sessions, but if someone wanted to try it out one time they could do so for free. Larry Wenger, MSW Workforce Performance Group Newtown, Pa. 877-872-6195 Patti - very happy that I have stumbled across your blog. My business is to help human service organizations with leadership issues, including nursing homes. I especially focus on mentoring and coaching people who are new to supervision responsibility. There are lots of coaches for people “at the top”; very few who look at the other end of the table of organization…where all the action is.

Recently I purchased a software license to do webinars, so that I can deliver my services on the web as well as on-site. I wanted to tell you that this coming Wednesday morning at 2 a.m., I am going to hold a webinar for overnight staff. It will last 30-40 minutes, so they will not be away from their work very long. The webinar will focus on some of the leadership skills needed by folks who work while everyone else sleeps. This will be appropriate for anyone regardless of title; I believe that everyone can and should be a leader regardless of formal responsibility. We will also spend some time at the first session getting input from those who participate regarding topics they would like to discuss.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in this, please have them call me at 877-872-6195; advance registration is required for the webinars. The fee for the webinar is $50 for four sessions, but if someone wanted to try it out one time they could do so for free.

Larry Wenger, MSW
Workforce Performance Group
Newtown, Pa.
877-872-6195

]]> By: Katherine http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-178 Katherine Sat, 12 Apr 2008 05:08:36 +0000 http://phinational.org/archives/patti-green-we-have-to-learn-to-speak-up/#comment-178 Terrific Patti. I am surprised I haven't met you. I am a member of Vermont Association for Professional Careproviders and was a delegate to the Direct Care Workers Conference in Orlando, Florida 2 years ago and the Better Jobs Better Care Forum in Boston. I have had the privilege of being a reader for the CareWell project, a 40 hour course for Personal Care Attendants, and the PCA Standards committee, which reviews a list of suggested standards for competant PCAs. I originally joined VAPCP for exactly the reasons your website exists, to have a place to talk to other direct care workers outside the work setting. I live in your twin state, Vermont. Over 40 years ago I was a nursing assistant in New Hampshire for 2 years as I was from there before I was married. I worked for the post office for 32 years and 6 years ago went back to my first love, direct care. I started as a PCA, then earned my LNA and worked in a nursing home for 1 and 1/2 years. I found what you say to be true, and am now back in home care, at less pay but more happiness. Keep up your good work. Sincerely, Katherine Terrific Patti. I am surprised I haven’t met you. I am a member of Vermont Association for Professional Careproviders and was a delegate to the Direct Care Workers Conference in Orlando, Florida 2 years ago and the Better Jobs Better Care Forum in Boston. I have had the privilege of being a reader for the CareWell project, a 40 hour course for Personal Care Attendants, and the PCA Standards committee, which reviews a list of suggested standards for competant PCAs. I originally joined VAPCP for exactly the reasons your website exists, to have a place to talk to other direct care workers outside the work setting. I live in your twin state, Vermont. Over 40 years ago I was a nursing assistant in New Hampshire for 2 years as I was from there before I was married. I worked for the post office for 32 years and 6 years ago went back to my first love, direct care. I started as a PCA, then earned my LNA and worked in a nursing home for 1 and 1/2 years. I found what you say to be true, and am now back in home care, at less pay but more happiness. Keep up your good work. Sincerely, Katherine

]]>