Nursing home neglect and abuse is a worldwide, growing problem. Elders enter nursing homes when they need extra attention, or medical assistance. Whatever the reasoning is for entering these facilities, the job of the staff is always the same. When they are on the clock, they are supposed to make sure that the patients are one hundred percent comfortable, physically, mentally, and medically. That entails feeding patients on time, giving them the right medicine at the right time, making sure they are clean, and simply making their stay as comfortable and painless as possible. Working in a nursing home isn't a job to be taken lightly, and to accept this job position requires taking on big responsibilities. .
To many times people in these homes are treated poorly. Whether it is negligence, or abuse, often patients are treated in ways that are unfair, cruel, and on top of everything, illegal. Anyone old enough to sign working papers and get a job should have a sense of responsibility; however working in any atmosphere where other people's lives are in your hands is a bit different and much more important. .
The main problem is too often the nurses in these places aren't held personally liable. Instead, the nursing home as a whole is. The problem with this is that without severe consequences, these nurses do not take their jobs serious enough. Sometime the nurse messes up something simple that can be fixed. However, there also is the unfortunate but not so rare chance that because of one single person's actions, the patient has to suffer permanent injuries, or even worse, the loss of their life. Not only does the patient have to suffer, but the family of the patient as well, all because of someone not following what they were hired to do.
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Again, if nurses were held personally liable for their actions while working, they would either act more carefully, or not take the job period. This job isn't for everyone, and money is the last thing that should be on the mind of the employees.
