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 competent, traumainformed care in accordance with professional standards of practice and accounting for residents’ experiences and preferences in order to eliminate or mitigate triggers that may cause re-traumatization of the resident (per §483.25(m) requirement that will be implemented beginning November 28, 2019).

Who should use these resources? Nursing home leadership teams may assign responsibility to a person, such as a social worker, to review the resources below, identifying those that might be helpful for a) leadership, staff, and/or resident/family education, or b) behavioral/emotional care policy or program development or revision. 

Why this is important? The included resources provide information that will help nursing homes to build capacity among interdisciplinary team members to deliver holistic resident care, being sensitive to how a range of experiences over the resident’s life may relate to their current physical, emotional, and behavioral health status. Trauma is common throughout human experience, and we need to respond with empathy and understanding. Providing trauma informed care can help staff to avoid re-victimization of those who have survived trauma and create an environment where the individual feels safe and secure. 

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 prevention of healthcare-associated infections. The online version of the training tool features real-world infection prevention and control scenarios and allows participants to choose options that affect the outcome of the story. 

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 area in the flood zone. They banded together to keep their residents, staff, and families safe.

Here’s her advice, based on that firsthand experience, for how to handle emergencies before, during, and after they happen.

Many directors of nursing services (DNSs) have a hands-off approach when it comes to fee-for-service Medicare Part A and the MDS process, says Suzy Harvey, RN-BC, RAC-CT, managing consultant at BKD in Springfield, MO. “DNSs attend morning meetings and sometimes attend Medicare meetings, but they don’t really get involved because they count on their MDS staff to handle those processes.”

That approach works for the RUG-IV case-mix classification system, but when the Skilled Nursing Facility Prospective Payment System (SNF PPS) switches to the Patient-Driven Payment Model (PDPM) on Oct. 1, rehabilitation therapy will no longer drive Part A skilled care, says Harvey. “With PDPM focused on patient characteristics and skilled nursing services instead of therapy volume, nursing will become key to facility success in this new system, and as the supervisor of the nursing staff, the DNS will need to help lead the way.”

It’s important to note that working on PDPM isn’t just another task to add to the DNS’s plate, adds Harvey. “Getting paid appropriately is the focus of PDPM, but it ties back into quality of care. Much of what you will need to work on for PDPM will also benefit you on survey and your quality measures as well.”

Here are seven key steps a DNS can take to get out in front of PDPM: