Fiscal Management and Budget Efficiency During Lean Times

When a skilled nursing facility (SNF) is operating on a tight budget, while also being census- and staff-challenged, the director of nursing services (DNS) needs to be more directly and proactively involved in fiscal management of the nursing department. “It can be very scary, especially for a new DNS,” says …

Achieving Strong Resident Quality of Life Starts With Better Staff Management

Quality of life is a “fundamental principle” that feeds into—and flows from—all resident care and services, according to 42 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) §483.24. The F-tag 675 surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual offers insights on the definition of quality of life and what it …

Moving Forward Coalition Calls: March 24: Calling All Nursing Home Leaders; April 21: COVID-19 Innovations; May 10: Cost Reporting 101

Calling All Nursing Home Leaders! Friday, March 24, 2-3 PM (EST) During this session we plan to share a bit about our vision but primarily learn from you. The Moving Forward Coalition needs the help of providers to test, promote and advocate for our package of quality improvement plans. Join …

Q&A: Can I still register for the AAPACN 2023 Conference?

Question: Can I still register for the AAPACN 2023 Conference? Answer from AAPACN: Absolutely! Registration is open and available on the AAPACN conference webpage. This page also includes information regarding the schedule, preconference workshops, hotel and travel information, and more. Early-Bird registration ends March 26, 2023. Want to read more …

Prepare for a Conversation with Leadership Using SBAR

Nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) work in a unique role. They have the responsibility of managing the MDS but are often not in supervisory position over the interdisciplinary team members that complete portions of the MDS. When issues arise, from untimely completion of MDS sections to missed documentation that could impact …

CMS Booklet for Medicare Beneficiaries: Medicare and Skilled Nursing Facility Care Benefits: Getting Started

Updated for 2023. It includes a SNF Checklist for potential admissions and families to use to assess each SNF. Medicare and Skilled Nursing Facility Care Benefits: Getting Started

Nursing Staff Conflicts: Gracefully Resolve Issues With These Mindset Shifts

Interactions Among Staff (i.e., the extent to which staff are rude to, or bully, other staff) is one of six workplace safety composite measures derived from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality’s (AHRQ) new Surveys on Patient Safety Culture (SOPS) Workplace Safety Supplemental Item Set for Nursing Homes to …

IHI: Organizational Trustworthiness in Health Care

Registration to obtain this is free: Bolender T, DeSmidt B, Feske-Kirby K, Imbeah K, Sampath B. Organizational Trustiworthiness in Health Care. Boston: Institute for Healthcare Improvement; 2022. (Available at www.ihi.org) Trust between patients and clinicians, between clinicians and the health care organizations where they work, and between communities and their …

Retaining Talent: Check-In with New Employee Template

When new employees see their leader is invested in their success, including proficiency in their job performance as well as becoming a part of team, the odds of retaining the employee increase dramatically. AAPACN’s Retaining Talent: Check-In with New Employee Template will guide leaders to check in with employees over …