Supporting Those Who Stand at the Bedside: A Message to Directors of Nursing Services

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. Successful leadership in long-term and post-acute care is not defined solely by metrics or regulatory results. It is also measured by what residents experience every day and by the staff who care for them. The reach of the …

Nurse Leaders: It’s Time to Take on the Role of Data Detective

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. While the director of nursing services (DNS) and other nurse leaders should keep residents at the heart of every decision, data should provide the framework for those decisions to help residents achieve the best possible quality of care …

Why What You Do Matters: Rediscovering Purpose, Pride, and Power in CNA Work

This inspiring in-service reminds certified nursing assistants (CNAs) why their role is so vital to resident safety, dignity, and quality of life. Rather than focusing on tasks or regulations, the session encourages CNAs to reconnect with the purpose behind their work and the impact they have on residents every day. …

Aligned at the Top: The DNS/Administrator Partnership

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how directors of nursing services and administrators can strengthen their partnership, improve communication, and navigate the …

CDC Project Firstline Health Professions Infection Control Education Toolkit

CDC’s Project Firstline released a new resource to support teaching faculty in bringing infection control concepts into the classroom. The new toolkit includes adaptable educational resources, including a journal club with discussion guides and learning activities that can be integrated into health professions and public health curricula to help prepare …

CMS Healthcare Provider Guidance: Emergency Preparedness Frequent Citations

Emergency Preparedness for Every Emergency Effective Health Care Provider Emergency Planning Sound, timely planning provides the foundation for effective emergency management. The response to an emergency can impact an entire community and can involve numerous medical and public health entities, including health care provider systems, public health departments, emergency medical services, …

TIP: CDC Releases New Sepsis Prevention Tool

Nursing home residents are at risk of developing infections that can lead to sepsis, which is a medical emergency requiring immediate attention to prevent severe morbidity and mortality. The Sepsis Prevention Assessment Tool (SPAT) for Nursing Homes released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identifies gaps in …

From Coding to Compliance: Avoiding Pitfalls in the 2026 MDS Landscape  

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. By: Kristine Martinez BSN, RN, RAC-CT, RAC-CTA, QCP, DNS-CT and Lavatus Donaldson LPN, BPS-HIM, RAC-CT, MBA, QCP With the multiple regulatory bodies that govern long term care (LTC) and skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), it is easy to feel …

Managing Resident Behaviors Before and After a Catastrophic Incident

Listen to this article Your browser does not support the audio element. The director of nursing services (DNS) faces two key behavioral health issues that have unfolded simultaneously: Residents with behavioral health concerns are increasingly common in nursing homes, and federal and state scrutiny of psychotropic medication use has become …