Stroke is a common issue among residents in long-term care facilities. When caring for this population, staff often focus on physical issues, yet post-stroke residents often have emotional or behavioral changes as well. It is important for staff to understand how a stroke can affect residents’ psychosocial well-being. By recognizing …
Improving resident outcomes is a top priority for nursing home teams. Outcomes, good or bad, not only affect the residents and their families but also influence the facility’s Quality Measures (QMs), Five-Star ratings, and regulatory results. Collaboration is key to achieving improvement, or at the very least, preventing decline. This …
A resident-to-resident incident occurred on the dementia unit, resulting in an injury to one resident. The altercation surprised the staff, so their response to the situation was not immediate. Additionally, when they intervened, they did not de-escalate the situation well. Does this sound familiar? When an abuse situation occurs, it …
Communication is key to providing residents quality care. This is especially true for dialysis patients who are particularly vulnerable: lack of communication can lead to missed dialysis appointments, medication errors, adverse events, and rehospitalization. This article will provide the director of nursing services (DNS) tips to improve communication with both …
As the leader of the nursing department, the director of nursing services (DNS) plays an integral role in the disciplinary process. Managing employee performance can be challenging, but it is necessary. Failure to address employees’ negative behaviors and actions can destroy morale among the staff. Knowing when and how to …
A surveyor investigating a resident with multiple falls approaches a nurse and asks why the care plan wasn’t updated with the latest fall prevention interventions. The nurse tells the surveyor that she doesn’t have anything to do with the care plans and that the nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) is who …
To meet residents’ individualized needs, the director of nursing services (DNS) requires the expertise of many healthcare professionals working collaboratively. For expertise on nutrition, the DNS should collaborate with the registered dietician (RD), who is an invaluable addition to the team for both the residents and the facility. This article …
The director of nursing services (DNS) has many issues to prioritize each day, such as resident falls, staffing, and grievances. Unfortunately, the DNS may be tempted to relegate clinical rounds to “later,” considering them a low priority due to time constraints, which can prove to be a costly mistake. Daily …
Admissions are vital to a facility. They may occur daily, or even multiple times a day, and should be a part of routine operations. However, the admission process can be cumbersome, and it is easy for staff to miss things, especially if the facility receives multiple admissions in a shift. …
As people age, oral health often declines. Teeth can lose enamel, and gums may recede, causing tooth loss and pain. Oral health is much more than just brushing and flossing. Symptoms in a resident’s oral cavity can alert caretakers to other health issues, such as diabetes or infection. Additionally, poor …
