Study examines staffing trends in skilled nursing facilities

A new study examined staffing trends in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) from 2018 to 2022. Using publicly available data, the study found that nursing occupations accounted for four times the staff hours of non-nurse occupations. The number of staff in non-nursing occupations declined during the study period, with the biggest drop coming in therapy staff and feeding assistants. Non-nursing staff are more likely than nursing staff to be contractors, with over 50% of therapy staff, medical directors, and pharmacists being on contract. Contractor staffing decreased for non-nurse occupations while contractor staffing for nursing occupations increased. 

The study, which is available from the UW Center for Health Workforce Studies, was written by Rachel A. Prusynski, DPT, PhD, Assistant Professor; Tracy M. Mroz, PhD, OTR/L, Associate Professor; and Bianca K. Frogner, PhD, Professor, with the UW Department of Family Medicine.