National Preventive Mechanism
floor mats, body pressure sensors, microchips) and low-profile beds in order to
minimise the risk of falling and the consequences of injury. The supervisory
authority stated that it would be desirable to have more staff work on night
shifts. However, because the minimum staffing ratio had already been
exceeded, there was no legal basis requiring more staff.
Massive conflicts and
complaints following
staff changes
In a nursing home in Carinthia, in 2015 Commission 3 found serious
deficiencies. During the follow-up visit in July 2016, both staff and residents
and their relatives addressed the experts with calls for help. Within the space
of eight months all qualified staff, including the head of the nursing staff, had
left the facility. Although newly appointed staff appeared to be motivated,
they did not receive any induction training and there was no team spirit.
Out of the original 25 doctors, only four were willing to attend patients in
the nursing home. Various residents described to the Commission how much
they were suffering from the poor care situation. The regional government of
Carinthia informed the NPM that more than ten supervisory examinations
in situ were carried out during the reporting year. As required action had
not been taken in a timely manner by the facility, the supervisory authority
ordered that it be carried out by a third party. At the cost of the operator of
the facility, the authority commissioned qualified staff from a mobile service
to monitor nursing documentation and for the administration of medication.
No entries in nursing
documentation for
months
In a nursing home in Burgenland the nursing documentation was so incomplete
and inadequate that no entries were made for months. For instance, it was
not always apparent to Commission 6 which medication was given to whom.
Staff reported to the Commission that they had not received sufficient training
concerning the documentation system. The lack of a quality management
system on management level not only resulted in impermissible restrictions
of freedom – as they were not reported to the representatives of the residents
– and some mistakes in the administration of medication, but also to further
serious violations of nursing standards: care planning did not take account
of increased risks of falls, and regular pain assessments were not carried out.
Team conflicts
endanger residents
Also unresolved conflicts within teams can lead to a situation in which
responsibilities are not taken and residents are neglected. Commission 1
became aware of a situation in Tyrol in which disputes between staff had
the result that incontinent residents, who were no longer cleaned by the day
shift before going to bed and provided with fresh incontinence products, were
also ignored by the night shift. Leaving the skin of elderly persons, which is
already weakened by age, in contact with urine and faeces leads to painful
skin conditions and pressure sores. One nurse was dismissed as a result.
Conflicts between
residents
Managers and nursing staff must also take care if conflicts occur between
residents; in particular, the possibility for individual privacy should also be
offered. There was, for instance, a case involving a deadly attack on a fellow
resident by an 88-year-old who couldn’t fall asleep because of occasional cries.
106
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