The safety of residents is a top priority for a skilled nursing facility. But how does one promote safety in such a dynamic environment? Three critical steps the director of nursing services (DNS) and other facility leaders can take are: cultivate trust and transparency with staff, residents, and families; conduct thorough investigations of allegations and incidents; and develop a systematic approach to interpreting incident data and implementing process changes to mitigate or prevent future occurrences.

Read this article to learn about concrete suggestions DNSs and other facility leaders can apply to improve resident safety in their facilities.

While areas of concern related to medication administration (i.e., medication pass or med pass) are specific to each facility, there are certain common issues. Read this article for tips directors of nursing services can use to prioritize mini-audits in between the consultant pharmacist’s full observation audits of their medication administration protocols.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has acknowledged the toll that separation and isolation have taken on residents living in long-term care. With increased vaccination numbers making nursing facilities safer, on March 10, CMS updated the September 2020 Nursing Home Visitation – COVID-19 memo. Read this article for steps facility leadership can take to ensure safe visitation while following the new guidelines.

Residents who have had COVID-19 may require careful discharge planning to avoid hospital readmissions and to address the long-term side effects of COVID-19.

In this article, you'll learn about steps that can help directors of nursing services (DNSs) finetune the discharge planning process to optimize the discharge home for residents who have had COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left many staff in healthcare struggling to keep going. They are exhausted, frustrated, overworked, afraid, and aren't sure how much more they can handle.

If you think your staff are feeling this way, what plans do you have in place to help them cope with all the struggles of the pandemic? Read this article for ways directors of nursing services (DNSs) can identify staff who are struggling and learn why interventions to promote coping and recovery are necessary.

"As facilities begin to ease out of crisis or contingency mode, implementing a robust restorative nursing program can help directors of nursing services (DNSs) and facility staff manage the transition to whatever the new normal will be," says Jessie McGill, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA.

Read this article to learn about some of the benefits of a restorative nursing program for your residents and the facility's bottom line, as well as steps for implementing a strong restorative nursing program.