Back to Basics: Reinforcing Clinical Fundamentals

The beginning of a new school year has a particular energy—fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and a renewed focus on learning the essentials. In the long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) world, we can take a cue from that “back to school” spirit. No matter how long we have been in the …

Back to Nursing Basics: Why Clinical Fundamentals in LTC Still Matter

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, Amy Stewart, MSN, RN, DNS-MT, QCP-MT, RAC-MT, RAC-MTA, chief nursing officer for AAPACN, and Lauren Stenson, MSN, RN, CNDLTC, QCP, DNS-CT, curriculum development specialist for AAPACN, discuss how nurse leaders can reinforce the clinical fundamentals that form the backbone of safe, high-quality care …

How the DNS Can Use HRSN to Improve Care and Reduce Hospital Readmissions

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) ultimately chose not to implement MDS section R (Health-Related Social Needs) on Oct. 1, 2025. Each skilled nursing facility (SNF) will have to make an individual decision whether to do off-MDS data collection of the HRSN data that would have been captured …

NIOSH: PPE and Respirator Approval Program Web Updates

The NIOSH Personal Protective Equipment and Respirator Approval Program web pages have been updated and moved. These pages provide information about NIOSH Approved® respirators, including how to identify approved products, types of respiratory protection, tips for use, and information for respirator approval holders. Please update your bookmarks to Personal Protective Equipment and Respirator …

2025–26 Prevention and Control of Seasonal Influenza With Vaccines — ACIP Recommendations

Summary What is already known about this topic? Influenza vaccination protects against influenza and its potential complications. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices makes influenza vaccination recommendations for each influenza season. What is added by this report? Information for the 2025–26 influenza season includes the updated vaccine composition, approval of …

Behavioral Health Management: Learn How to Better Support Resident Needs

Nurse leaders who want to improve behavioral health management often get stuck in the “I don’t know where to start” or “I don’t know what that should look like” phase, points out Jacob Berelowitz, LNHA, LMSW, CPHQ, CCM, program director of the Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health in Nursing …

Respiratory Season Ahead: Is Your Facility Ready?

Respiratory illness season is rapidly approaching once again, posing significant health concerns for vulnerable residents. The director of nursing services (DNS) must ensure facility staff can identify, manage, and help prevent these infections. Whether it’s influenza, pneumonia, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), or COVID-19, early recognition, prompt intervention, and strong infection …

Caring for Residents with Respiratory Illness – Nursing In-Service Education

Respiratory illnesses remain one of the most significant health concerns for residents. Early recognition, prompt intervention, and strong infection control practices are important to maintain residents’ well-being. The Caring for Residents with Respiratory Illness in-service will assist with training licensed nurses to be able to identify, manage, and help prevent …

Is Your Facility Ready for Respiratory Illness Season?

In this LTC DON Chat podcast episode, 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 what to do to prepare for respiratory illness season. 

Keys to Prioritizing Resident Safety in High Summer Heat and Sunlight

Summer usually is a time for nursing home residents to experience social outdoor activities and meals. It could mean attending barbecues, picnics, parades, outdoor concerts, or baseball games, gardening or birdwatching, doing outdoor crafts, or even just taking the air on the patio or another outside space. However, summer fun …