Agency Nursing Hurting Nursing Home Ratings

A recent study involving over 80,000 nursing homes found that the use of staffing agency nurses is linked to lower quality ratings in the CMS Five-Star system. The study revealed that reliance on agency registered nurses (RNs), licensed practical nurses (LPNs), and certified nursing assistants (CNAs) lowered a facility’s chances of achieving higher ratings.

Agency nurses, unfamiliar with the facility and its residents, may compromise the continuity and consistency of care, hindering their ability to provide the necessary services to achieve higher quality ratings, even when requesting support from permanent staff members.

“Nursing homes need to focus on retaining and recruiting staff by offering competitive wages – especially since nursing home wages are significantly lower than hospitals – good benefits and clear career paths.”

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