The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46389

Jeanne Geiger-Brown, PhD RN, Department of Behavioral & Community Health, University of Maryland, Baltimore School of Nursing, 655 West Lombard Street, Suite 625, Baltimore, MD 21201, 410-706-0452, jgeiger@umaryland.edu and Carles Muntaner, MD PhD, Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, 655 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

The quality of care in any nursing home is highly dependent on the availability and skill of nurses aides. These low-wage workers suffer from the effects of heavy physical and emotional demands on the job, and often are forced to work extended hours or more than one job to stay financially afloat. We surveyed 473 unionized nurses aides from 51 nursing homes in West Virginia and Ohio to investigate patterns of work and the association between work schedule and the presence of depressive symptoms (as measured by the CESD). Typically, 6% worked more than 8 hours a day, 11% worked more than 5 days a week, and 30% worked more than 40 hours in a week. Nearly all (89%) worked two to four weekends every month. About 1/3 worked two or more double shifts every month. Working 6-7 days per week was associated with an increase in depressive symptoms (OR2.81, 95%CI 1.22-6.49), and working 1-5 double shifts per month increased this likelihood to twice. Working full time evening shift appeared to confer some protective benefit. Long-term nursing home employment of greater than ten years was also associated with depressive symptoms (OR 1.73, 95%CI 1.11-2.72). Two thirds report feeling mentally exhausted “often or always” and 70% report similarly for physical exhaustion. Of nurses aides who were working full time in year 1, 2.5% had been disabled by year 4. Clearly, the demands on nurses aides employed in this industry take a high emotional toll, and may explain the high rates of turnover.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify patterns of work that are associated with depressive symptoms among nursing home aides
• Discuss overlap of work organization variables as they relate to health outcomes of nurses aides

Keywords: Health Care Workers, Workplace Stressors

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.