Early Lessons: How Onboarding and Retention Specialists May Boost Staffing 

Over the last decade, a strong orientation and onboarding process has been linked to higher levels of knowledge, critical thinking skills, and job satisfaction among nursing staff—leading to lower staff turnover and improved retention. Conversely, an inadequate onboarding process can quickly turn new hires into former employees, forcing providers to …

Respiratory Virus Vaccination Toolkit

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 audit and track influenza, pneumococcal, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccinations. This AAPACN resource …

CMS QSO Memo: Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote

Compliance with Residents’ Rights Requirement related to Nursing Home Residents’ Right to Vote Memo #QSO-24-21-NH Posting Date 2024-09-26 Fiscal Year 2024 Memorandum Summary• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is affirming the regulatory expectation that ensures nursing home residents have the unimpeded ability to exercise their right to …

Small Updates, Big Impact: October 2024 RAI Manual Changes – Sept. 19, 2024

Members: $24 |  Non-members: $48Continuing Education: 1.25 CE hours Recording Date: Sept. 19, 2024Duration: 75 minutesSpeaker: Jessie McGill, RN, BSN, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA Every October, nurse assessment coordinators (NACs) nervously anticipate what Resident Assessment Instrument (RAI) User’s Manual changes will impact their primary duties and workflows. Some years bring massive changes, which result in policy …

Discharge Planning for Licensed Staff In-Service Education

Discharge planning is an important and necessary process to ensure residents have all the resources, equipment, and support they need for success when they return home. This in-service education will enable licensed nurses to understand the components of the discharge process and develop a solid discharge plan, helping residents to make …

Infection Control Issues and Career Advancement of the Infection Preventionist

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), discuss the role of the infection preventionist in long-term care and how this respiratory season …

Nursing Orientation and Onboarding Done Right Can Boost Retention

Working as a nurse in a nursing home can be overwhelming, especially if the director of nursing services (DNS) and executive leadership expect nurses to learn on the job and fail to set up a comprehensive program that includes adequate orientation (short-term training and support) and onboarding (longer-term training and …