Special care units (SCUs) for nursing home residents with dementia continue to proliferate rapidly. However, the research findings on the benefits of these units for residents and staff vary. Using a large sample from 38 randomly selected facilities in two states, this study examines job satisfaction and intention to quit for SCU and traditional-unit nursing staff. SCU staff report significantly higher job satisfaction and less likelihood of quitting than those on traditional units. Multivariate analyses examining demographic, environmental, and personal relationship variables indicate that the benefits to staff of working on an SCU depend significantly on the positive relationships that staff have with supervisors, coworkers, and families. Nursing home units of all types should strive to improve and support such relationships for their staff to improve morale and staff retention.
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