Staff Work Schedules: It’s Time to Get Flexible—and Realistic—to Improve Retention

Flexible scheduling, which allows staff members to opt for shorter shifts, longer shifts, add-on shifts, and other staffing flexibilities, can be a strong tool for both recruitment and retention in long-term care, says Jasmine Travers, PhD, MHS, RN, AGPCNP-BC, assistant professor at the New York University Rory Meyers College of …

Improve Staff Retention by Following Hiring Best Practices and Elevating the Onboarding Process

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how the director of nursing services (DNS) can improve staff retention through the onboarding process. Additional Resources:

Minimum Staffing Standards Rule: Correction

Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Minimum Staffing Standards for Long-Term Care Facilities and Medicaid Institutional Payment Transparency Reporting; Correction     SUMMARY: This document corrects typographical and technical errors in the final rule that appeared in the May 10, 2024 Federal Register, entitled “Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Minimum Staffing Standards for …

Turnover and Staff Retention – Understand the Differences and How to Track These Metrics

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss turnover and staff retention, what the differences are and how to track these metrics. They will also cover what the …

How to Hire the Best NP—Even if Someone Else Is Doing the Hiring

The director of nursing services (DNS) in a nursing home often is presented with a newly hired nurse practitioner (NP) or other advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as a fait accompli (i.e., a done deal), but no matter who is hiring the NP, the DNS should get involved and ask …

NACs Like a Reasonable Challenge: 2023 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report

Over the last few years, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) are being hired with less long-term care experience, being paid more, and facing a multitude of challenges including stress and burnout, staffing shortages, and increased workloads. The 2023 AAPACN NAC Work Study and Salary Report received responses from 632 NACs. The …

2022 Nursing Home Staffing Study Final Report

In February 2022, the Biden-Harris Administration announced a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at improving quality and safety for residents in nursing homes. One aspect of this initiative was conducting a new Nursing Home Staffing Study to help inform CMS’s approach to developing minimum staffing standards. The 2022 study final …

What the DNS Should Know to Hire an Infection Preventionist: From Regulatory Requirements to Onboarding Best Practices

The Infection Preventionist (IP) has become an integral part of the nurse leadership team in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs). Therefore, turnover in this important position brings many ramifications. When the IP position is vacant, it can cause quality-of-care issues, increase the workload for the director of nursing services (DNS), and …

Infection Preventionist Job Description

The infection preventionist (IP), under the direction of the director of nursing services (DNS), is responsible for the development, implementation, direction, and operation of the facility’s infection prevention and control program (IPCP). The IP’s responsibilities also include ensuring compliance with infection-related regulations from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services …

Turnover Solutions Series – Part 2: Understanding Why Employees Leave and Strategies to Reduce Turnover

The staffing crisis is an ongoing dilemma for long-term care. To combat the effects of this crisis, directors of nursing services (DNS) may be tasked with finding creative solutions. Often, DNSs focus on the lack of potential candidates and difficulties related to hiring. However, staff turnover is a large part …