Abstract
High rates of turnover among nursing home staff are well documented, especially among nursing assistants who provide 80 percent to 90 percent of the direct care to residents. High staff turnover significantly and negatively impacts a nursing home's ability to provide high-quality care. Current organizational theory and empirical evidence suggest that a supportive workplace promotes satisfaction and retention of workers. A model of staff support in the nursing home is proposed that conceptualizes the nursing home as a supportive social system in which the needs of both staff and residents can be better met.