The career path of a director of nursing services (DNS) is both challenging and rewarding. Long-term care nurses who choose to take on the DNS role can have success with the right resources. Part one of this blog series will focus on tips for the new DNS and how to get started in the role.
Tips for the DNS Novice
For new DNSs, some of the top tips to start their career and get ahead include:
1. Become familiar with resources that are crucial to the DNS’s job:
State Operations Manual – It’s important for new DNSs to utilize the State Operations Manual as a resource to maintain compliance with federal regulations for nursing homes.
LTC Survey Pathways – The LTC Survey Pathways include instructions that surveyors follow to determine compliance during a survey. New DNSs should become familiar with these pathways to help audit for regulatory compliance. The LTC Survey Pathways can be found on CMS’s Nursing Homes webpage in the Downloads section under Survey Resources.
QAPI Resources – CMS webpage – New DNSs can reference these Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) resources from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to assist in implementing their QAPI program.
QIN-QIO – New DNSs should find out who their Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) is in their region and locate available QIO resources.
2. Join a professional nursing association, such as the American Association of Post-Acute Care Nursing (AAPACN), for more essential resources, tools, education, and a community of experienced DNSs.
3. Put together a professional development plan/orientation that includes all the areas the DNS needs to know and start gaining that competency. AAPACN offers the DNS Body of Knowledge (free to members), which identifies, defines, and measures the core competencies required of directors of nursing services (DNSs) practicing in skilled nursing facilities.
4. Learn from more experienced DNSs. One of the best ways to get comfortable in the DNS role is to have a community of other DNSs to ask questions and learn from. AAPACN’s DNS & Nurse Leaders General Discussion Community message board in the member exclusive AAPACNConnect community is a great resource to start with and to find others including experts that DNSs can depend on for help when needed.
The DNS role can be challenging, but with the right resources, nurses can succeed as DNSs and be incredible advocates for nursing home residents and their needs, as well as be a crucial leader for the nursing department to produce the best facility outcomes, too.
Other AAPACN resources to assist the DNS novice include:
- DNS Fundamentals
- MDS Development: A Toolbox for the NHA and DNS
- Medicare Basic Training for the NAC and IDT
- MDS Essentials
- Multidisciplinary Management of Five-Star Quality Measures
- Trauma-Informed Care
- Documentation Toolkit for the Nurse Leader
- Guide to Enhanced Resident Safety: Incident Management and A QAPI Approach to Incidence Surveillance
- Survey Preparedness Program
- F-Tag Library On-Demand Series
- Quality Measures (QM) Rescue Guide
AAPACN Quiz and Learning Ladder
Not sure where to start with AAPACN education as a new DNS? Take the AAPACN Education Guide: Where Can I Start? Quiz or review the Learning Timeline for AAPACN Education and Resources.