Targeted Prevention: Stopping Urinary Infections in Their Tracks

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) and catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs) remain significant concerns in long-term care settings. They contribute to increased morbidity, extended hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and reduced quality of life for residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 75% of UTIs in hospitalized patients …

Catheter Care Competency

Competent catheter care is crucial for preventing infections and ensuring resident safety. Facilities can use AAPACN’s Catheter Care Competency tool as a standardized guide to evaluate and verify that staff are properly trained and consistently applying best practices when providing care for residents with urinary catheters. This competency can also …

Don’t Let Dashes Crack the MDS Foundation – May 22, 2025

Members: $24 | Non-members: $48Continuing Education: 1.25 CE hoursRecording Date: May 22, 2025 Duration: 75 minutesSpeaker: Jennifer LaBay, RN, RAC-MT, RAC-CTA, QCP, CRC In today’s challenging nursing facility staffing environment, it’s easy to overlook small issues when pressed for time—especially when completing the Minimum Data Set (MDS) under pressure. But just like cracks in a …

How to Implement a Surveillance Plan for Antibiotic Stewardship – May 15, 2025

Members and Non-members: FreeContinuing Education: 1 CE hourRecording Date: May 15, 2025 Duration: 60 minutesSpeakers: Laura Velasco, MSN, RN, CIC, and Emily Bouzek, MSN, RN, CIC, LTC-CIP Infection preventionists gather a lot of data to do their jobs; however, to be effective, the data they gather must be intentional and actionable. During this 60-minute webinar, …

Pain Relief Without Pills: A Guide to Non-Pharmacological Interventions

Pain management is an essential component of nursing care. Non-pharmacological pain management interventions can effectively complement or reduce the need for medication. This tool will review non-pharmacological interventions by type, providing mechanism of action and examples for use. It will also include a comprehensive audit component to track intervention utilization, …

The Facility Assessment: What It Takes to Create an ‘Operational Care Plan’

The revised surveyor guidance in Appendix PP of the State Operations Manual that goes into effect on April 28, 2025, does not include any updates to F-tag 838 (Facility Assessment), says Robin Hillier, CPA, STNA, LNHA, RAC-MT, president of RLH Consulting in Westerville, OH. “Revised F838 guidance already went into …

Appendix PP Updates: Admission, Transfer, and Discharge

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, director of education and certification strategy for AAPACN, discuss the new Appendix PP updates related to admission, transfer, and discharge going into effect April 28, 2025. …

Rethinking Pain Management: Non-pharmacological Solutions for a Holistic Approach

Pain management is an essential piece of the care provided in long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) settings. Many residents experience acute or chronic pain due to a variety of conditions, such as postsurgical recovery, arthritis, and neuropathy. Pain traditionally was managed with pharmacological interventions, including narcotics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. …

The Basics of Enhanced Barrier Precautions – April 14, 2025

Members and Non-members: FreeContinuing Education: 1 CE hourRecording Date: April 14, 2025Duration: 60 minutesSpeakers: Joan Hebden, MS, RN, CIC, FAPIC, FSHEA, and Deb Patterson Burdsall, PhD, RN-BC, CIC, LTC-CIP, FAPIC Long-term care (LTC) staff provide high-contact resident care and therefore are frequently exposed to multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). During this 60-minute webinar, Joan Hebden, MS, RN, …

Shifting Mindsets on Infection Prevention and Control: From Policy Adherence to Personal Ownership for Staff

An effective Infection Prevention and Control Program (IPCP) goes beyond compliance with policies and ideally reflects a cultural shift toward personal responsibility. The nurse leader has a key role in helping healthcare professionals recognize their part in preventing infections and understanding how their actions directly impact resident safety. The goal …