1. LeadingAge Natasha Bryant
Retention Specialist Program: Creating an Agent of Change in the Nursing Home
LeadingAge
Natasha Bryant

2. Project Significance
Current retention crisis of long-term care workforce
Importance of frontline caregivers in maintaining the quality of care in LTC
Importance of organizational change to retention efforts

3. RSP Project
The project tested the effects of providing a trained “Retention Specialist” in a nursing home, who has both the expertise and the ongoing support to systematically address problems of low job satisfaction and resulting turnover.

4. The RS Intervention
RS expected to take leadership role in retention efforts
RS acts as “retention advocate,” key internal consultant on retention
RS to devote least 20% time to retention
Typically staff development coordinator, but also can include director of nursing and administrator

5. Program Components Training in evidence-based retention strategies
Assess specific nursing home + staff retention needs
Tailor retention efforts to assessment
Receive ongoing support

6. So, what did we find? Average CNA turnover dropped by 10%
The strongest treatment effects were seen on the three general ratings of nursing home characteristics:
Quality of effort to keep employees
Quality of care
Quality of administration
The program appears to have had a stronger effect in larger versus smaller nursing homes

7. What programs did the Retention Specialists implement?
Peer Mentoring (9 programs started or modified)
Respect and recognition (6 programs started or modified)
Communication Skills (4 programs started or modified)
Management Changes (2 programs started or modified)

8. Challenges Retention challenges at every level
Six of 15 (40%) nursing homes changed at least one top management person
Four of 15 (27%) nursing homes changed the person assigned to be the retention specialist
Variation in degree they could allocate resources for retention programs

9. Lessons Learned Tailor program to your community
Continuous, integrated approach more effective
Team approach better
Needs administrative buy-in