Every month, AAPACN experts design tools that help our members perform their jobs with more ease, breaking down processes, synthesizing information, and aiding in ways to track required data. To help directors of nursing services (DNSs) easily find what they need fast, AAPACN has put together the following list of AAPACN free member tools specifically for DNSs with helpful categories sorted based on area of use.
Administrative Tasks/Meeting Tools
- Business Case Template
- Facility Assessment Considerations: A DNS Guide at a Glance
- Guide to Resident-at-Risk
- Guide to a Successful Meeting Tool
- Morning Stand-Up Meeting Minutes Tool
- Policy and Procedure Review and Development Guide Tool
- Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement (QAPI) Meeting Tools
- Stretch and SMART Goal Setting Worksheet Tool
Process Improvement
- Admission Checklist: Seed to Success
- Baseline Care Plan Tool
- Discharge Process Checklist
- Investigation Checklist Tool
- Past Noncompliance Corrective Action Template
- Pain Relief Without Pills: A Guide to Non-Pharmacological Interventions
- PDPM Admission Checklist Tool
- Post-Fall Intervention Planning Guide
- Pre-Admission Screening Tool
Competency/Mock Drills
- Catheter Care Competency
- Emergency Drills: Code and Elopement Toolkit
- Hand Hygiene Competency Tool
- Mock Abuse Drill Toolkit
- Mock Substance Overdose Toolkit
- Nurse Aide (CNA) In-Service Training and Competency Tracker Tool
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donning and Doffing Competency Tool
Hiring/Staff Retention/Facility Culture
- AAPACN’s Nursing Department Culture Assessment and Improvement Worksheet
- AAPACN Onboarding Essentials: Welcoming Staff to Promote Retention Tool
- Certified Nurse Aide (CNA) Retention Tip Sheet Tool
- Employee File Audit Sheet
- Interview Template Tool
- Retaining Talent: Check-In with New Employee Template
- Stay Interview Template and Action Plan
Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
- Dialysis Communication Sheet
- Hospice Collaboration Toolkit
- Maximizing Your Pharmacy’s Benefits Tool
- Prepare for a Collaboration with Therapy Using SBAR
- The Dietitian’s Role in Nursing and Reimbursement
Auditing/Reporting
- Call Light Audit Tool
- Comprehensive Person-Centered Care Plan Audit Tool and Care Planning Cheat Sheet
- Daily Clinical Rounds Tool
- Emergency Crash Cart Checklist and Crash Cart Daily Signature Log
- Enteral Nutrition Checklist
- Guide to Primary iQIES Reports for the Director of Nursing Services
- Mandatory Training Checklist
- Medical Record Audit: New Admission/Readmission
- Payroll-Based Journal (PBJ) Audit Tool
- Respiratory Virus Vaccination Toolkit
- Survey Readiness: Critical Element Pathways, Observations, Reviews, and Policy Calendar Tool
- Weekly Medication Storage Inspection Tool
Educational Resources
- 10 Fast Facts About Trauma-Informed Care Tool
- Bed Safety Guide
- Laboratory Test Tool
- Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Resources
Originally published July 2025. Updated Sept. 4, 2025.