The following resources are now available: Mental Health Awareness Training Plan Schizophrenia in Nursing Facilities: Validating Diagnosis and Planning for Appropriate Care Schizophrenia Fact Sheet 4 Ways Nursing Homes Can Promote Substance Use Recovery See …
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain significant concerns in long-term care settings. They contribute to increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life for residents. …
Competent catheter care is crucial for preventing infections and ensuring resident safety. Facilities can use AAPACN’s Catheter Care Competency tool as a standardized guide to evaluate and verify that staff are properly trained and consistently …
Report from the Alzheimer’s Association. Includes data related to nursing home residents. Open Access https://alz-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/alz.70235
Note: Unlike the draft, this transmittal includes Only the updated sections of Appendix PP. Please be aware that there are at least some changes from the draft manual. Transmittal # R229SOMA Issue Date 2025-04-25 Subject …
Implications for Long-Term and Post-Acute Care Facilities While the majority of long-term care and post-acute residents—given their age—are presumed to be immune to measles, staff and pediatric care settings remain at risk,” says PALTmed. The organization …
“1. Don’t insert percutaneous feeding tubes in individuals with advanced dementia. Instead, offer oral assisted feedings: Strong evidence exists that artificial nutrition does not prolong life or improve quality of life in patients with advanced dementia. …
Pain management is an essential component of nursing care. Non-pharmacological pain management interventions can effectively complement or reduce the need for medication. This tool will review non-pharmacological interventions by type, providing mechanism of action and …
Using non-pharmacological approaches, not psychotropic medications (i.e., antipsychotic, antidepressant, anti-anxiety, and hypnotic dugs), as the first line of treatment for behavior management is not a new concept for nursing homes, says Amy Lee, RN, BSN, …
Pain management is an essential piece of the care provided in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings. Many residents experience acute or chronic pain due to a variety of conditions, such as postsurgical recovery, arthritis, …
An effective Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) goes beyond compliance with policies and ideally reflects a cultural shift toward personal responsibility. The nurse leader has a key role in helping healthcare professionals recognize their …
The Essential Guide to Infection Prevention and Control in-service education will equip staff with the knowledge and strategies to identify and reduce the risk of several types of infections including respiratory, foodborne, urinary tract, and …
Summary The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing this Health Alert Network (HAN) Health Advisory to notify clinicians, public health officials, and potential travelers about a measles outbreak in Texas and New Mexico and offer guidance …
A CDC food safety alert regarding a multistate outbreak of Listeria infections has been posted: https://www.cdc.gov/listeria/outbreaks/shakes-022025/index.html Key Points: What You Should Do: What Businesses Should Do: Listeria Symptoms: If you have questions about cases in a particular state, please …
Results from AHRQ’s 2025 Surveys on Patient Safety Culture® (SOPS®) Nursing Home Survey User Database Report are now available. The Database Report includes 107 nursing homes representing 4,411 healthcare providers and staff. Key findings include: Area for Improvement: …
To register at QSEP and take the course, you just need to provide an email address. https://qsep.cms.gov Updated: January 16, 2025 This course consists of four presentations by the Division of Nursing Homes outlining the …
Multidrug-Resistant Organism & Clostridioides difficile (MDRO/CDI) Infection Event Reporting Module Using Laboratory-identified Event Methodology Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only MDRO/CDI Events Denominator Forms Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey See more …
January 2025 Updates Data Collection Forms & Instructions All Data Collection Forms are Print-only UTI Events Denominator Forms Monthly Reporting Plan Annual Facility Survey Learn more: https://www.cdc.gov/nhsn/ltc/uti/index.html
At its October 2024 meeting, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices* (ACIP) approved the Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Ages 19 Years or Older, United States, 2025. The schedule supports health care providers, as well …
In this podcast, 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 the admission process and ways …
Nurses play a key role in the early identification and treatment of sepsis, assessing the resident and reporting to the physician or nonphysician practitioner (NPP), as well as potentially managing residents with sepsis in-house in …
For both residents and their loved ones, admission into a post-acute care facility can be an overwhelming experience. In addition to the condition that brought residents to the facility, the transition itself involves changing environment, …
The transition from home to nursing home can be difficult and emotional for new residents and their loved ones. The thought of living in a space that is not their own, having their privacy invaded, …
Use of Additional Doses of 2024–2025 COVID-19 Vaccine for Adults Aged ≥65 Years and Persons Aged ≥6 Months with Moderate or Severe Immunocompromise: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices — United States, 2024 …
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, the risk of developing sepsis has increased nationwide, according to the September 2024 report An Assessment of Sepsis in the United States and Its Burden on Hospital Care …
Emergency preparedness is a vital component of maintaining safety and ensuring continuity of care in post-acute care settings. Facilities face unique challenges in emergency situations. The vulnerable people they care for, including the elderly and …
Long-term care facilities face unique problems when disasters strike. Staff’s quick thinking and correct action can protect staff members, residents, and families. Use this in-service education to prepare staff for when a disaster occurs. This …
AAPACN in collaboration with the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) has released a practice guidance tool and resource guide to help healthcare personnel in long-term care facilities implement enhanced barrier precautions …
By Greg Seiple Discharge planning is an essential component of patient care in skilled nursing facilities. But how do healthcare professionals determine when a resident is ready to leave and manage daily activities independently? Enter …
De-escalation/Behavioral Expression Toolkit De-Escalation Strategies In-Service Toolkit The de-escalation toolkit aims to equip staff with the knowledge and techniques necessary to prevent escalating behaviors and enhance safety within a nursing facility. The de-escalation toolkit offers …
Sepsis—a key driver of hospital readmissions—can have negative clinical impacts for residents and negative financial, quality, survey, and even legal impacts for nursing homes. Here is a review of important basics: What is sepsis? The …
When a substance overdose situation occurs, staff must know how to respond. Nurse leadership should provide staff opportunities to practice and perfect their response to these events. The Mock Substance Overdose Toolkit will assist nurse …
Antimicrobial medications are used to treat infections (and sepsis) caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses, and fungi. Antimicrobial resistance (AR)—when germs conquer the drugs that are supposed to kill them and instead keep growing—occurs naturally. However, …
Revised Long-Term Care (LTC) Surveyor Guidance: Significant revisions to enhance quality and oversight of the LTC survey process Memo # QSO-25-07-NH Posting Date 2024-11-18 Fiscal Year 2025 Memorandum SummaryRevised Surveyor Guidance: CMS is releasing the …
Many residents take opioids to relieve pain, and each of these residents is at risk for overmedication, overdose, or even death. According to the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), by 2021, 1 in 370 …
The Moving Forward Nursing Home Quality Coalition has developed a new Guide to Addressing Resident Goals, Preferences and Priorities. This free guide supports nursing home staff by offering resources and recommendations to implement a standard …
The newly revised Clinical Practice Guideline for Diabetes Management in the Post-Acute and Long-Term Care (PALTC) Setting provides (1) new information on overall goals in diabetes care, (2) detailed information on how to use and …
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) Falls Free Initiative is providing a falls toolkit offering resources to raise awareness and reduce the risk of falls. The toolkit includes: This AAPACN resource is copyright protected. AAPACN …
Fall is here, and respiratory virus season is around the corner. Nursing leaders must take proactive steps to protect residents from these viruses, which carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. …
Respiratory viruses carry the potential for serious illness and can lead to hospitalization. Vaccination is an integral part of a proactive infection control program that combats these viruses. Nurse leaders can use this toolkit to …
In a recent webinar series, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced changes to the definition of “up to date” for COVID-19 vaccine reporting in the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). This change …
Starting Oct. 1, 2024, additional supporting documentation is required to capture a diagnosis of sepsis at I2100, Septicemia on the MDS. Nurse assessment coordinators can use the AAPACN Sepsis: Nurse Documentation Training Aide to provide …
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Viral Respiratory Pathogens Toolkit for Nursing Homes provides a comprehensive approach that includes infection prevention, testing, vaccination, and treatment. This toolkit includes guidance and recommendations and resources that …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Dr. Devin Jopp, EdD, chief executive officer for the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC), …
The facility has a high number of discharges to the community every month, and the director of nursing services (DNS) feels the discharge process is a good one, as she has received no complaints from …
Providing residents with the appropriate level of assistance in the activities of daily living (ADLs) is foundational to care in nursing homes, yet the ADLs consistently remain a common citation risk in the survey process. …
Like care plan management and evaluation and observation and assessment of a resident’s condition, teaching and training activities are a core nonskilled component of resident care that can rise to the level of a skilled …
This printable flyer infographic discusses Long-Term Care (LTC) and Assisted Living Facility Biosafety: Identify, Isolate and Inform. https://repository.netecweb.org/items/show/1873
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccination recommendation for older adults, recommending a single dose of RSV vaccine to: Additionally, the CDC also recommended the updated 2024-2025 …
Substance use disorder (SUD) is becoming more common in nursing home residents. While SUD can be challenging, there are several resources that can help nurse leaders to develop, implement, and sustain a SUD program. AAPACN …
Over 1 million people aged 65 and over live with substance use disorders (SUD) (Alliance for Aging Research, 2022). As with most trends, what is prevalent in the community will also be prevalent in nursing …
Dementia robs our loved ones of precious memories and their ability to communicate. My 82-year-old stepfather has Alzheimer’s disease and has had a steady decline. My 80-year-old mother, who is also a nurse, has been …
Question: What is the evidence that Enhanced Barrier Precautions are effective at preventing MDRO transmission? Answer from CDC Long-Term Care Facilities FAQs about enhanced barrier precautions webpage question seven. The evidence that Enhanced Barrier Precautions …
Engineering controls can be implemented to isolate people from a hazard and provide protection for long-term care residents and staff. Engineering Controls for Long-Term Care
Using technologies to engage residents with dementia is becoming increasingly common in nursing homes across the country. Local news shows are peppered with segments on facilities using dancing robots, robotic cats, and other technologies that …
F-tag 689 (Free of Accident Hazards/Supervision/Devices) was the top immediate jeopardy (IJ) citation nationwide—and the second most-frequent citation overall—in calendar year (CY) 2023, and that citation pattern is being maintained so far in CY 2024, …
Stroke is a common issue among residents in long-term care facilities. When caring for this population, staff often focus on physical issues, yet post-stroke residents often have emotional or behavioral changes as well. It is …
The Age-Friendly Health Systems: Guide to Care of Older Adults in Nursing Homes and the Age-Friendly Health Systems: A Workbook for Nursing Home Teams are designed to be used simultaneously to help care teams in …
There are many reasons to beef up your facility’s restorative program, from reducing risk of functional decline, improving Five-Star and Quality Measure ratings, minimizing risk of falls and immobility, to improving reimbursement under PDPM. But …
APIC and IPAC Canada partnered on the creation of a new resource to help healthcare professionals work through ethical issues that arise in infection prevention and control (IPC) and assist in making complex decisions. Published on both …
Formerly called the NDNQI Modules, these NPIAP complimentary training modules are aligned with the Prevention and Treatment of Pressure Ulcer/Injuries: Clinical Practice Guidelines. Modules 1 – 3 are free with registration: Module 1: Pressure Injury Staging …
Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) Tool for General Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) Across Settings https://www.cdc.gov/healthcare-associated-infections/php/toolkit/icar.html AT A GLANCE ON THIS PAGE
https://www.cdc.gov/long-term-care-facilities/hcp/training/index.html AT A GLANCE ON THIS PAGE Course link: https://www.train.org/cdctrain/training_plan/3814 Training resources
https://www.cdc.gov/long-term-care-facilities/hcp/prevent-mdro/faqs.html AT A GLANCE Frequently asked questions about using enhanced barrier precautions in nursing homes to prevent MDROs. ON THIS PAGE
https://www.cdc.gov/long-term-care-facilities/hcp/prevent-mdro/PPE.html KEY POINTS How to implement personal protective equipment (PPE) use in nursing homes to prevent spread of multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs). Summary of recent changes Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes – Video, Posters, …
Improving resident outcomes is a top priority for nursing home teams. Outcomes, good or bad, not only affect the residents and their families but also influence the facility’s Quality Measures (QMs), Five-Star ratings, and regulatory …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Colleen Oakley, OTR/L NHA RAC-CT, senior director of operations for Rehab America and treasurer and member of the …
When an abuse situation occurs, staff must know how to respond and must do so in a timely manner. Opportunities to practice enable staff to sharpen their responses to these events. AAPACN’s Mock Abuse Drill …
Increasingly, nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), work either directly for or closely with nursing homes to improve resident care outcomes—as do physician assistants (PAs). …
A resident-to-resident incident occurred on the dementia unit, resulting in an injury to one resident. The altercation surprised the staff, so their response to the situation was not immediate. Additionally, when they intervened, they did …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, QCP, CRC, curriculum development specialist with AAPACN, discuss strategies for simplifying the care …
Many residents in nursing homes receive dialysis. It’s imperative that licensed nurses understand how to care for this population. AAPACN’s Caring for the Resident Receiving Dialysis – Nursing In-service Education guides nurses to understand what dialysis is, …
Main Points Deprescribing has emerged as a clinical practice to reduce polypharmacy and use of potentially inappropriate medications (PIMs) and serve as a mechanism for quality improvement and increased patient safety. The purpose of this …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program director for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …
In calendar year (CY) 2023, F880 (Infection Prevention and Control) was the third most frequently cited F-tag in nursing homes nationwide, as well as the fifth most common at the immediate jeopardy (IJ) level, according …
Like in-house hospital readmissions, post-discharge hospital readmissions can affect provider performance in the Skilled Nursing Facility Value-Based Purchasing Program (SNF VBP), says Carol Hill, MSN, RN, LNHA, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, CPC, president of Hill …
It’s important to communicate regularly with the dialysis partner regarding a resident’s status for continuity of care. The facility should communicate certain details to the dialysis partner and vice versa on days the resident has …
Communication is key to providing residents quality care. This is especially true for dialysis patients who are particularly vulnerable: lack of communication can lead to missed dialysis appointments, medication errors, adverse events, and rehospitalization. This …
The average cost of a hospital readmission is 12.4 percent higher than the average cost of the original hospital admission ($16,300 vs. $14,500), according to a 2023 analysis by the Agency for Healthcare Research and …
Historically, pain is underassessed and undertreated in the geriatric population, says Liz Barlow, RN, CRRN, RAC-CT, DNS-CT, QCP, vice president of marketing at Synchrony Health Services in Louisville, KY. “Up to 75 percent of community-dwelling …
To meet residents’ individualized needs, the director of nursing services (DNS) requires the expertise of many healthcare professionals working collaboratively, including the dietitian. This tool provides guidance on how to enhance collaboration between the nursing …
To meet residents’ individualized needs, the director of nursing services (DNS) requires the expertise of many healthcare professionals working collaboratively. For expertise on nutrition, the DNS should collaborate with the registered dietician (RD), who is …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Anna Sherman, RD, LD, a registered dietitian at RD Nutrition Consultants, discuss the registered dietitian’s role as a …
The director of nursing services (DNS) has many issues to prioritize each day, such as resident falls, staffing, and grievances. Unfortunately, the DNS may be tempted to relegate clinical rounds to “later,” considering them a …
The guidance to surveyors in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual addresses behavioral health education, training, and competencies under two separate F-tags: Did the facility have sufficient staff who provide direct services and implement …
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 …
As people age, oral health often declines. Teeth can lose enamel, and gums may recede, causing tooth loss and pain. Oral health is much more than just brushing and flossing. Symptoms in a resident’s oral …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Dr. Nancy Kusmaul, PhD, MSW, associate professor in the baccalaureate social work program at the University of Maryland, …
F740 (Behavioral Health Services) is not a frequently cited F-tag so far in calendar year (CY) 2023, according to QCOR data posted on Aug. 13, 2023. However, the consequences can be severe—surveyors often issue this …
Infusion therapy services are so inherently complex that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) identifies “intravenous or intramuscular injections and intravenous feeding” and “enteral feeding that comprises at least 26 percent of daily …
In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program manager for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …
The National Pressure Injury Advisory Panel has released the second version of their Standardized Pressure Injury Prevention Protocol – abbreviated as “SPIPP” (pronounced S – PIP). The SPIPP is a shortened checklist of preventive actions …
The use of psychotropic medications in the skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a controversial issue with implications for resident, regulatory, and financial outcomes. The many requirements can be confusing, especially for a relatively new director …
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 Lisa Morris, D.Ph., BCGP, FASCP, executive director of clinical services for Consana, discuss changes …
