Section GG Process Flow Chart Tool

The functional assessment coded in section GG often brings with it many questions— Should therapy complete this section? What type of documentation is needed? Can I use nurse aide documentation? How do we determine usual performance? The AAPACN Section GG Process Flow Chart will help your team establish a process …

How to Utilize Your Staff to Mentor and Fill Gaps in the MDS Department

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN is joined by AAPACN Master Teacher and Board Member, Maureen McCarthy, RN, BS RAC-MT, QCP-MT, DNS-MT, RAC-MTA to discuss how leadership can often find potential nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) among …

Q&A: If hospital documentation supports a diagnosis of hip fracture as the initial encounter, do I need to query the physician for the subsequent encounter diagnosis to be used in the SNF?

Question: If a resident had a hospital stay for hip fracture repair, with no complications documented, and the hospital documentation supports a diagnosis of hip fracture as the initial encounter, do I need to query the physician for the subsequent encounter diagnosis to be used in the SNF? Answer: The …

Q&A: Where can I find resources to assist me with increasing COVID-19 vaccine and booster uptake?

There are several great resources for facility leaders to utilize. The Society for Post-Acute and Long-term Care Medicine (AMDA) has several great resources in their COVID-19 Vaccine Education Toolkit.  These resources are free to everyone, however, you will need to register with AMDA to access them. The Centers for Disease …

Deconditioning with Dr. Steinberg

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, vice president of education and certification strategy for AAPACN and Dr. Karl Steinberg, president of AMDA and a longtime nursing home medical director and chief medical officer for two nursing home management companies, discuss the importance of early identification …

Stretch and SMART Goal Setting Worksheet Tool

Goal setting for personal, professional, and organizational growth is a proven tactic to help individuals and teams achieve higher performance. Nurse leaders can use this worksheet to help their team or themselves develop a stretch goal combined with a SMART goal. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in …

Q&A: If a mechanically altered diet is being trialed during a speech therapy visit to facilitate oral intake, could K0510C, mechanically altered diet, be coded on the MDS?

Question: We are seeking clarification on MDS item K0510C, mechanically altered diet. If a resident is being trialed on a mechanically altered diet or given thickened liquids provided during a speech therapy visit to facilitate oral intake, could K0510C, mechanically altered diet, be coded on the MDS if it was …

TIP: CMS Will Begin Posting Staffing Data on the Care Compare Website

Weekend Staffing: The level of total nurse and registered nurse (RN) staffing on weekends provided by each nursing home over a quarter. Staff Turnover: The percent of nursing staff and number of administrators that stopped working at the nursing home over a 12-month period. This information will be added to …

Nurse-Driven Antibiotic Stewardship – Nursing In-service Education

Participants will learn to define antibiotic stewardship and recognize nurse-driven efforts that support antibiotic stewardship, including nursing assessment and infection-specific interventions. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, please complete a permissions form.