Which Do I Follow? Federal vs. State Regulations for the MDS

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 Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss some of the differences between federal and state-specific regulations for MDS completion.

AHRQ Learning Module for Supporting Nursing Home Residents’ Emotional Health (5/22)

AHRQ has released a new module to help frontline nursing home staff support their residents’ emotional health. The video module is designed to be self-paced and provides guidance on how staff can identify signs of depression in their residents and better support their emotional needs. It also provides ideas on …

AHRQ: Incorporating Infection Prevention and Control into an Emergency Preparedness Plan (5/22)

Nursing home leaders can reference this resource to ensure that the facility’s emergency preparedness plan is current and captures an all-hazards approach to meeting the health, safety, and security needs of staff and residents during an emergency or disaster. Resource: Incorporating Infection Prevention and Control into an Emergency Preparedness Plan (PDF, 236 …

AHRQ 5-Minute Learning Modules for Frontline Staff: Staff Support, Resident Support, Leadership, Post-Vaccination Practice, COVID-19 Identification and Prevention, Vaccination and Testing (5/22)

These brief videos offer self-paced learning for those on the front lines of nursing home care. This includes nursing assistants, housekeeping, dietary, and maintenance staff, and others. Emotional and Organizational Support for Staff series This series of three learning modules features strategies to help nursing home teams recognize and manage …

Q&A: Does an inpatient rehab stay count toward a qualifying hospital stay for Medicare coverage?

Question: We have a referral for a resident with Medicare Part A who has been in an inpatient rehab facility (IRF) for six weeks. Is the IRF still considered acute and can qualify for the 3-day qualifying hospital stay (QHS)? Answered by Janine Cortesa RN, BSN: Acute inpatient rehab facilities …

Nurse Leaders, You Make a Noticeable Difference

Nurse leaders are essential to any long-term and post-acute care facility. These nurses fearlessly take responsibility for the success of their team and for quality resident care delivery. They spearhead the nursing department, overcoming obstacles and accepting challenges daily—whether it’s deciphering new regulations, dealing with difficult situations, problem solving for …

Resident Cognitive Level Determination: For the SLP and Nursing Components Under PDPM

If the BIMS interview is not completed, the PDPM Cognitive Level will be used to determine cognitive impairment under the SLP and Nursing components of PDPM. AAPACN has updated its Resident Cognitive Level Determination Tool to help nurse assessment coordinators better understand the differences between SLP and Nursing PDPM Cognitive Level scoring.  For permission to …