How to Hire the Best NP—Even if Someone Else Is Doing the Hiring

The director of nursing services (DNS) in a nursing home often is presented with a newly hired nurse practitioner (NP) or other advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) as a fait accompli (i.e., a done deal), but no matter who is hiring the NP, the DNS should get involved and ask …

Working With NPs and Other APRNs: Learn to Maximize the Benefits

Increasingly, nurse practitioners (NPs) and clinical nurse specialists (CNSs), also known as advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs), work either directly for or closely with nursing homes to improve resident care outcomes—as do physician assistants (PAs). That growth may accelerate as providers transition to more value-based payment models amid the ongoing …

The Art of Delegation for the Director of Nursing Services: Safe Practices and Strategies to Overcome Common Challenges

The role of the director of nursing services (DNS) in a skilled nursing facility (SNF) can be stressful due to the number of competing priorities in each day. Delegation, when done properly, can help relieve some stressors while ensuring tasks are completed. In contrast, failure to delegate can lead to …

Process Surveillance Plus QAPI Equals Better Infection Prevention Training

Nursing homes are required to establish a surveillance system (i.e., “the routine, ongoing, and systematic collection, analysis, interpretation, and dissemination of surveillance data”) as part of their infection prevention and control program (IPCP) under F-tag 880 (Infection Prevention and Control) in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual. This surveillance …

Advocate for Long-Term Care Through the DNS-EAP

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Denise Winzeler, BSN, RN, LNHA, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss the opportunity for AAPACN members to advocate for long-term care through AAPACN’s Director of Nursing Services—Expert Advisory Panel (DNS-EAP). Additional …

Caring for the Resident Receiving Dialysis – Nursing In-service Education

Many residents in nursing homes receive dialysis. It’s imperative that licensed nurses understand how to care for this population. AAPACN’s Caring for the Resident Receiving Dialysis – Nursing In-service Education guides nurses to understand what dialysis is, how to recognize potential side effects, and interventions to implement to prevent complications. This AAPACN …

Skilled Nursing Care & Skilled Therapy Services to Maintain Function or Prevent or Slow Decline: CMS Reminder

Medicare covers skilled nursing care and skilled therapy services under skilled nursing facility, home health, and outpatient therapy benefits when a beneficiary needs skilled care to maintain function or to prevent or slow decline, as long as: Visit the Jimmo Settlement Agreement webpage for more information.

Management of Resident Behavioral Health Needs in Long-Term Care

In this podcast, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program director for the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing Facilities (COE-NF), discuss resident behavioral health management—what it is, the benefits of this approach, how …