e-z answers.

"E-Z Answers" is a column of e-mailed responses to a question asked of CLTC readers. There's a different question every month, which appears at the bottom of this column. This month's "B-Z Answers" is brought to you through an unrestricted educational grant from Accu-Med Services, Inc.

Contemporary Long Term Care asks:

What has been your most effective tool in reducing turnover among CNAs?

I think proper staffing is the answer. For a 30-bed unit, we'll have six CNAs, a minimum of three RNs, and there's also a medical technician on the floor. This is around the clock. If you are going to take that high-acuity resident, you've got to have the staff.--TED PREISS, ADMINISTRATOR, DEWITT REHABILITATION AND NURSING CENTER, NEW YORK

To help stem the CNA turnover, we I started a shift differential of an extra $1.50 per hour for people who work between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. One must work at least four hours between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 a.m. to be eligible.--LORETTA HANSON, HUMAN RESOURCES, SILVER RIDGE VILLAGE, BULLHEAD CITY, ARIZ.

Knowing the workforce has been very helpful. For example, 60 percent of our workers here are single mothers. If there's bad weather or something happens with the school bus, it's a problem and we try to be understanding and flexible.--WILLIAM PASCOCELLO, DIRECTOR, FLORENCE NIGHTINGALE HEALTH CENTER, NEW YORK