Need Behavioral Health Training Help? Check Out the COE-NF

The Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), which opened its online doors in December 2022 thanks to a three-year grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), is a centralized hub where any Medicare- or Medicaid-certified nursing home can access trainings, tools, and …

Q&A: Are there specific requirements for CNA documentation?

Question: Are there specific requirements for CNA documentation? Answer from Alexis Roam, MSN, RN-BC, CPHQ, DNS-MT, QCP-MT: Although Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual (SOM) includes numerous references to documentation, it does not specify what role is responsible for that documentation. There may be requirements specific to your state, so …

Basics of Emergency Care for Medical Emergencies – Nursing Assistant In-service Education

Participants will learn to identify the risks for medical emergencies for skilled nursing facility residents and select basic actions to follow when a medical emergency occurs. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, please complete a permissions form. 

AHRQ Nursing Home Staff 5-Minute Learning Modules in Spanish, Tagalog, and Haitian Creole

AHRQ has released translations in Spanish, Haitian Creole and Tagalog of learning modules that nursing home staff can watch at their own pace to learn about COVID-19 prevention and how to support residents’ and staff emotional health. Each of the six modules—intended for nursing assistants, housekeeping, dietary, and maintenance staff and others—takes about five minutes …

Stay Alert for Hypoglycemia – Nursing Assistant In-service Education

Participants will learn what diabetes is, how to recognize the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia, and what certified nurse aides (CNAs) should do when they see a resident might be experiencing hypoglycemia. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, please complete a permissions …

Dining Safety – Nursing Assistant In-service Education

Participants will learn to understand why dining is an important activity, know at least three factors that make residents high risk for aspiration, describe first aid measures for choking and burns, and discuss at least five ways to promote dining safety. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this …

Q&A: Is the 1135 waiver to hire nursing assistants still in effect?

Question: Is the 1135 waiver to hire nursing assistants still in effect? There are nursing assistants who were waiting to take the test and have not received their certification that wanted to work and applied to the facility already. Can we hire them? Answer from Rebecca Boyd: Virginia did not …

CNA Longevity Part 2: Money Isn’t a Cure-All—Management Style Matters

Editor’s note: In this two-part series, this article covers management techniques that can help directors of nursing services (DNSs) and other members of the administrative team improve long-term certified nursing assistant (CNA) retention. The first article addresses operational flexibilities that can boost CNA longevity. Providing CNAs with a livable wage …

Communicating With Residents With Dementia – Nursing Assistant In-service Education

Participants will learn to describe the ways that dementia can affect communication and identify different measures that can assist in effectively communicating with residents who have dementia. Download now. For permission to use or reproduce this tool in full or in part, please complete a permissions form.