“Across the country, the high rate of turnover in long-term care is a serious workforce problem,” says Dr. Linda Shell, DNP, MA, BSN, DNS-CT, Chief Learning Officer, LindaShell.com. “The cost associated with this turnover—the organizational …
Two new resources from AHRQ are part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to protect nursing home residents and staff from COVID-19. Both are intended to support the use of observational audits, which help facilities understand …
Memo # QSO-21-15-ALL Posting Date 2021-03-26 Fiscal Year 2021 Summary Burden Reduction Final Rule Interpretive Guidelines: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing interpretive guidelines and updates to Appendix Z of the …
Interim Estimates of Vaccine Effectiveness of BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273 COVID-19 Vaccines in Preventing SARS-CoV-2 Infection Among Health Care Personnel, First Responders, and Other Essential and Frontline Workers — Eight U.S. Locations, December 2020–March 2021 …
High nursing staff turnover in nursing homes offers important quality information Gandhi A, Yu H, Grabowski DC. Health Aff (Millwood). 2021 Prior research has found that high nursing staff turnover is associated with lower patient safety culture. …
NOTE: CMS revised guidance on March 10, 2021 for nursing home visitation during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, which supersedes the visitation guidance in this memo. See CMS memorandum QSO-20-39-NH Revised, Nursing Home Visitation-COVID-19. ————————————————————————————————- …
“Heroes work here.” It was a common theme in the early days of the pandemic. Signs were placed in front of the facility, and people would cheer and line the streets as healthcare personnel went …
Retaining a talented workforce is a top priority; to achieve this goal, leaders must create a welcoming onboarding experience. This toolkit presents education for department managers and administration as well as tools leaders can use …
One year. When asked how long it takes a new nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) to fully learn the job, I say at least one year. The nuances of the Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) and Minimum …
Orientation for a new nurse assessment coordinator (NAC) is a very complex and long process. It is important to establish a realistic schedule that will allow for effective learning but will not be overwhelming. AAPACN’s …
There is a phenomenon of hostility among nurses and certified nursing assistants (CNAs), commonly referred to as “nurses eating their young.” This incivility is pervasive, often seen as a rite of passage, and directed at …
A resource guide, written by and for directors of nursing, administrators, and other nursing home leaders, outlines steps to reduce or eliminate urgent staff shortages, particularly shortages of direct care workers. This guide is from the …
Updates as of February 10, 2021 Updated the Implement Universal Use of Personal Protective Equipment section to expand options for source control and patient care activities in areas of moderate to substantial transmission and describe …
The Center for Medicare Advocacy released a new report – Geography Is Not Destiny: Protecting Nursing Home Residents from the Next Pandemic – which explores facilities’ responses to the coronavirus crisis and examines how residents’ deaths were …
Accepting a new position as the director of nursing services (DNS) often begins with excitement for the new challenges and many opportunities to make a positive difference. However, in the first few days and weeks, …
Effective Communication: Get the Nursing Team on the Right Track Establishing strong, open communication in the nursing department has always been a challenge, says Suzy Harvey, RN-BC, RAC-CT, director of clinical specialty services for Foster …
Leadership significantly affects CNA retention. To improve your facility’s CNA retention, as a leader, use the Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Retention Tip Sheet that outlines the five leadership principles and 10 actions to help leaders …
Question: Our nurses complete a respiratory therapy assessment on all new admissions for the first seven days. The RAI User’s Manual states that only minutes the respiratory therapist or respiratory nurse spend with the resident …
By Jessica Kunkler, MA When interviewing for a new position, don’t forget that an interview is a two-sided exchange. “Not only is the facility interviewing you to determine if you’re a good fit for them, but …
Question: Where can I find information on how to combat burnout? Answer: AAPACN’s Wellness for LTPAC Professionals webpage has many resources to combat burnout and cultivate resiliency and gives tips for maintaining general wellness for …
Impact on molecular tests remains low January 08, 2021 The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting clinical laboratory staff and health care providers that the FDA is monitoring the potential impact of viral mutations, …
The MDS 3.0 Provider User’s Guide provides information and instructions pertaining to the QIES ASAP MDS 3.0 system to Long Term Care (LTC) facility and Swing Bed (SB) hospital users who are required to submit …
Long-Term Care Facility Toolkit: Preparing for COVID-19 Vaccination at Your Facility Answering Common Questions About COVID-19 Vaccines This toolkit provides long-term care facility (LTCF) administrators and clinical leadership with information and resources to help build …
CDC provides information on COVID-19 vaccinations for residents and staff: Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Residents of Long-term Care Facilities The Importance of COVID-19 Vaccination for Healthcare Personnel
Date: Tuesday, December 22 Time: 1:00 – 2:00 pm ET Toll Free Dial-In: 833-614-0820 Access Passcode: 7979889 Overview: Please join CDC and CMS for this call with Nursing Homes focused …
Infection prevention and control considerations for healthcare personnel with systemic signs and symptoms following COVID-19 vaccination Note: Strategies are needed for healthcare facilities to appropriately evaluate and manage post-vaccination signs and symptoms among healthcare personnel (HCP). …
Study 1: New findings from a study of thousands of healthcare workers in England show that those who got COVID-19 and produced antibodies against the virus are highly unlikely to become infected again, at least …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing the first episode in a series of short podcasts for frontline nursing home staff “CMS Beyond the Policy”. This edition is titled “Nursing Home Series for Front …
Once again, the holiday season is upon us. However, due to the pandemic, the way people celebrate will be different this year. Holiday traditions that normally call for large gatherings of people—such as family dinners, …
Agency thanks nursing homes whose staff have completed free CMS training, but urges remaining homes to take advantage of this resource The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is publicly recognizing the 1,092 nursing …
Post-acute and Long-term Care Facility Toolkit: Influenza Vaccination among Healthcare Personnel Increasing Influenza Vaccination among Health Care Personnel in Long-term Care Settings Within this comprehensive toolkit are a number of resources intended to help long-term …
Respiratory Protection Guidance for the Employers of Those Working in Nursing Homes, Assisted Living, and Other Long-Term Care Facilities During the COVID-19 Pandemic This guidance is designed specifically for nursing homes, assisted living, and other …
All long-term care facilities must compile and maintain a personnel file and a medical file for each employee. AADNS’s Employee File Audit Sheet is intended to assist facility leaders in their review of the employee …
Question: Where can I find ideas to use at my facility to improve staff resiliency? Answer: 2020 has reminded all of us that resiliency, inspiration, and self-care are critical components of making it through …
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have developed a cybersecurity alert related to an increased and imminent cybercrime …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a video tutorial to assist providers in Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities and Skilled Nursing Facilities with standardized data assessment guidance and assessment strategies for the cognitive …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is releasing a video tutorial to assist providers in Skilled Nursing Facilities with standardized data assessment guidance and assessment strategies for the cognitive assessment known as the …
SARS-CoV-2 Exposure and Infection Among Health Care Personnel — Minnesota, March 6–July 11, 2020 Weekly / October 30, 2020 / 69(43);1605–1610 Summary What is already known about this topic? Health care personnel (HCP) are at increased …
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the elderly are the population most vulnerable to the effects of COVID-19, and the risk of illness severity increases with age. Other conditions—including diabetes mellitus, …
In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, AAPACN is developing several tools and resources to help LTPAC providers. The tools and resources available to date include: New Survey Binder Checklist: COVID-19 Focused Survey for Nursing Homes – This …
Creating and implementing a policy and procedure to ensure that facility staffing levels are sufficient to meet the needs of residents during an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, is an essential component of emergency …
Press Release Date: September 29, 2020 The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) is partnering with the University of New Mexico’s ECHO Institute in Albuquerque and the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in Boston …
The CASPER Reporting User’s Guide for MDS Providers provides information and instructions pertaining to the CASPER Reporting application. This system enables users to connect electronically to the National Reporting Database. This guide is intended for …
Keep health workers safe to keep patients safe: WHO 17 September 2020 | GENEVA – The World Health Organization (WHO) is calling on governments and health care leaders to address persistent threats to the health and safety of …
September 16, 2020 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) received the final report from the independent Coronavirus Commission for Safety and Quality in Nursing Homes (Commission), which was facilitated by MITRE. CMS also …
CMS slide deck summarizing resident and staff testing and reporting requirements, considerations for using and interpreting antigen tests, and educational resources and training available to nursing homes. New COVID 19 Testing and Reporting Requirements (PDF) (9/8/20)
So far, 2020 has been a very trying year, to say the least. COVID-19 caught long-term care teams unaware and has not only affected staff physically, but emotionally as well. Illness and loss of life …
COVID-19 Testing As part of CMS’ commitment to protecting nursing home residents, and to boost the surveillance of COVID-19, nursing homes are now required to conduct testing of residents and staff. More information about these …
Under the leadership of President Trump, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), is announcing the details of a $2 billion Provider Relief Fund (PRF) …
By Jessica Kunkler, MA Managing an organized MDS department is difficult even in the best of times. Under the stresses of a pandemic, it can be much harder, but difficult days make a well-run department all …
8/27/20 The Trump Administration, through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), is announcing it has now distributed almost $2.5 billion of a planned $5 billion distribution to nursing homes to support increased testing, staffing, …
Nursing home staff sometimes crush medications that should not be crushed, says Diane Crutchfield, PharmD, BCGP, an independent consultant pharmacist in Knoxville, TN. “Staff crush medications to make them easier—or in some cases even possible—to …
Nurses have often heard “if it wasn’t documented, it wasn’t done,” but they still struggle to consistently capture documentation that is timely, accurate, and comprehensive. This struggle sometimes emerges when underlying system failures go unaddressed …
Question: I am currently a Unit Manager and my next goal is to be a DON. How do I prepare as this is a big step? Answer: Response from Juzell Pettis, DNS-CT, DNS-MT, DWC, WCC: …
Question: How does your facility handle employees that refuse to have a COVID-19 test? Answer: This is what we are doing: If employees refuse to be tested for any reason, they are having to quarantine at …
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is currently a topic of discussion on a global level. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought infection control procedures and the use of PPE under intense scrutiny, especially in long-term care. On …
Meetings are a normal and necessary part of daily operations, but it is important to spend the time wisely so that the meeting achieves its intended purpose. AADNS’s Guide to a Successful Meeting tool will …
Almost 200 years ago, physicians discovered that deadly pathogens were transmitted from patient to patient via the hands of nurses and physicians, and that washing hands between appointments with patients would dramatically reduce the mortality …
Question: If you have an ADON and unit managers, how is the reporting structure set up? Do they all report to the DON, or do the managers report to the ADON and the ADON reports …
OSHA is committed to protecting the health and safety of America’s workers and workplaces during these unprecedented times. The agency will be issuing a series of alerts designed to keep workers safe. In a nursing …
Directors of nursing services (DNSs) and other managers can support and motivate staff in two critical ways: individually and organizationally. Taking the following steps can help staff deal with the anxiety of caring for residents …
Question: I am a relatively new DNS and my job description includes overseeing the Therapy Department. Is this within my scope? Answer: In most SNFs, the therapy department usually has its own director/manager, with ultimate oversight …
COVID-19: Peer support and crisis communication strategies to promote institutional resilience. Wu AW, Connors C, Everly Jr GS. Ann Intern Med. 2020 To address the negative psychological impacts faced by healthcare workers during the COVID-19 …
Emerging Infectious Diseases Volume 26, Number 5—May 2020 Biphasic Outbreak of Invasive Group A Streptococcus Disease in Eldercare Facility, New Zealand Abstract A 3-month outbreak of invasive group A Streptococcus disease at an eldercare facility, in which 5 persons …
Module 1: Compassion Fatigue and Secondary Traumatic Stress Identification for Healthcare Providers Module 2: Organizational Wellness From the Top: Stress Mitigation and Work Satisfaction for Healthcare Providers Module 3: Cognitive Tools for Mitigating Compassion Fatigue …
The CDC provides the Interim Guidelines for Collecting, Handling, and Testing Clinical Specimens from Persons Under Investigation (PUIs) for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/lab/guidelines-clinical-specimens.html Nebraska Medicine and the University of Minnesota Medical Center, which have …
By Jessica Kunkler, MA Staff turnover is everyone’s problem, and in facilities across the United States, it’s a big one. One in four nursing assistants and one in five home health aides report that they are …
CMS developed optional toolkits to aid nursing home teams with reducing adverse events and improving dementia care. These toolkits were the result of CMS work with nursing home Breakthrough Communities—a learning collaborative design where a …
Developing a Restful Environment Action Manual (DREAM) Toolkit As many as 70% of adults with dementia experience sleep disturbances, which are associated with various negative health outcomes. High quality sleep is necessary for optimal cognitive …
Head to Toe Infection Prevention (H2T) Toolkit Infections comprise a large share of adverse events in nursing homes. The Head to Toe Infection Prevention Toolkit contains educational materials and practical tools to support the clinical team in providing …
By Jessica Kunkler, MA One in four nursing assistants and one in five home health aides report that they are actively looking for another job. That’s a lot of unhappy employees. This turnover comes at a …
Medication is a critical component of resident care. Since the October 2018 start of fiscal year (FY) 2019, at least 11 potentially medication-related citations have been included among the top 60 most frequently cited survey …
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) most likely will specify education and training requirements for trauma-informed care under F741 (sufficient/competent staff‐behavioral health needs) and/or F949 (behavioral health training) in the upcoming revised Appendix PP, “Guidance to …
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this blog series, I covered how setting expectations regarding communication and behavior can save you some big headaches over time. Now, let’s discuss the final tool you’ll need …
Is the onboarding experience and orientation program in need of improvement in your nursing home? If so, you’re not alone; and the challenge is not unique to the healthcare industry. Only 12% of employees who …
Toolkit 3: Guide to Improving Nursing Home Employee Satisfaction There are many resources out there to help nursing facilities improve quality, but it can be overwhelming to identify which are most relevant to your facility’s …
In Part 1 of this blog series, I talked about how your team communicates with you and how you can set expectations for that communication. In this post, I am going to touch on how …
The old saying you never get a second chance to make a first impression is sage advice for healthcare leaders. Nursing homes within the same geographical vicinity are competing with each other to attract talent, …
Am J Nurs. 2018 Dec;118(12):26-32. doi: 10.1097/01.NAJ.0000549664.43827.ce. Advance Care Planning: An Exploration of the Beliefs, Self-Efficacy, Education, and Practices of RNs and LPNs. Ludwick R1, Baughman KR, Jarjoura D, Kropp DJ. Abstract Objective: This study compared the advance care …
Being the director of nursing (DON) is challenging, and anyone in the role will surely agree. Having a DON title comes with great rewards and requires lots of skills. I tell new DONs it’s all …
Question: I am excited that I have finally hired my ADNS. I have been running solo for two years. I need some recommendations on what can I put on her plate without overwhelming her? I …
Video Tutorials Available to Assist with Coding Specific Section GG Items The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is releasing a series of short videos to assist providers with coding select Section GG items on …
It would be easy to think writing about workplace culture as a simple task. If that’s you, let me stop you right there; I assure you it isn’t! Not because it is a difficult topic …
The July 2019 Requirements for Long-Term Care Facilities: Regulatory Provisions to Promote Efficiency and Transparency Proposed Rule would give Medicare- and Medicaid-certified nursing homes a break by postponing the Requirements of Participation’s Phase 3 rollout …
As the Director of Operations for my company, I have had the opportunity to encounter many different leadership styles among the various departments within the skilled nursing world. I’ve worked with those who have an …
Question: Can I get some wisdom about the issue of residents refusing specific staff members because of their race? Answer: Having experienced this personally and professionally as an African American, I suggest that ongoing communication …
CMS released the FY 2019, SNF PPS final rule, which solidified their plans to implement the patient-driven payment system (PDPM). The PDPM is set to replace the RUG-IV case-mix classification model that has been the …
Your facility needed a new director of nursing (DON), so you stepped up to the plate to give it your best shot. You went through the selection process and feel confident in your leadership …
Purpose of these resources This is a comprehensive, but not all inclusive, list of resources that may be helpful for nursing homes as they work to ensure that residents who are trauma survivors receive culturally …
Participants will learn to define empowerment, list four factors contributing to powerlessness, describe eight sources of power, and discuss measures to foster empowerment. Download now.
— Updated Section GG Web-based Training Course The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is offering a web-based training course on how to properly code of Section GG. This 45-minute course is intended for …
Princeton Place Did Not Always Comply With Care Plans for Residents Who Were Diagnosed With Urinary Tract Infections (A-06-17-02002) Princeton Place did not always provide services to Medicaid-eligible residents diagnosed with UTIs in accordance with …
EVS personnel play a critical role in preventing the spread of germs and healthcare-associated infections “EVS and the Battle Against Infection” is an interactive graphic novel illustrating the important role of EVS personnel in the …
Thursday, May 30, 2019, 3:00pm ET (1 hour) Recording Available Sepsis is a leading cause of hospital readmissions for nursing home residents, yet the early identification of sepsis in nursing homes remains a challenge. With …
To date, the accuracy of section GG (functional abilities and goals) hasn’t mattered from a payment perspective. Section GG doesn’t affect payment under the RUG-IV case-mix classification system, and the Skilled Nursing Facility Quality Reporting …
A significant percentage of nursing homes don’t take advantage of their CASPER (Certification And Survey Provider Enhanced Reports) reports, says Carol Maher, RN-BC, RAC-MT, CPC, director of education for Hansen, Hunter & Co. PC in …
From AHRQ News Now: Including bedside nurses in antibiotic stewardship activities has been identified by professional nursing groups and the CDC as an important—but missing—element in the success of these programs. To help fill this …
By Jessica Kunkler, MA In September 2018, Wendy DeCarvalho, RN, DNS-CT, QCP, and her team watched as Hurricane Florence approached their facility, which is located just two hours from the Carolina coast, nestled in a rural …
