When one considers financial management, thoughts usually go to managing expenses first, which part one of this series discussed. However, managing revenue, Five-Star ratings, and the budgeting process are equally important to keeping the nursing department and the facility as a whole financially sound. The second part of this article series will …
When I was in my first DNS role, I remember looking at the budget that the administrator put in front of me and thinking it looked like a foreign language. I told the administrator, “I am a nurse, not an accountant. I’m supposed to care for people, not crunch numbers!” …
The loss nursing home staff members have experienced over the last two years has been unprecedented. Many have lost well-loved friends, family members, and residents—and nearly all have had their sense of normalcy upended. Healthcare professionals have been so busy battling the virus daily that most haven’t had time to …
The diversity of care required to meet the individualized needs of each resident means that the director of nursing services (DNS) must seek the expertise of a variety of healthcare professionals and work collaboratively. When it comes to providing quality end-of-life care, hospice organizations are the experts and can be …
Believe it or not, the holiday season is upon us once again. It’s time for holiday traditions such as baking, caroling, and decorating. (For inquiring minds, yes, my Christmas tree went up in early November!) Another important tradition that facility leaders should incorporate is staff appreciation. Although it is important …
Almost every facility has a daily “stand-up” meeting for its management team. When done well, this meeting can be a font of information for everyone involved. However, without structure and focus, it can become cumbersome. When not done well, attendees often leave feeling frustrated, as though they have just lost …
Although staffing has always been a challenge, the situation has worsened over the last year and doesn’t seem likely to improve anytime soon. An American Health Care Association (AHCA) survey found that 73% of 616 responding SNFs reported that staffing shortages were worse in 2021 than in 2020. Many staff …
When a resident suffers a cardiac arrest in the facility, do nurses know how to initiate a code? If a resident elopes, do facility staff know what to do? When emergency events happen, such as a cardiac arrest or an elopement, it is imperative that staff know how to respond …
Since the public health emergency began, both the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and directors of nursing services (DNSs) have been focused on infection control and prevention—and rightfully so. Yet while crisis-oriented actions were the top priorities, other important clinical areas may have been deferred or set aside. …
The safety of residents is a top priority for a skilled nursing facility (SNF). But how does one promote safety in such a dynamic environment? Three critical steps the director of nursing services (DNS) and other facility leaders can take are: cultivate trust and transparency with staff, residents, and families; …
